<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/12/animals-to-be-formally-recognised-as-sentient-beings-in-uk-law>
"Animals are to be formally recognised as sentient beings in UK law for the
first time, in a victory for animal welfare campaigners, as the government set
out a suite of animal welfare measures including halting most live animal
exports and banning the import of hunting trophies.
The reforms will be introduced through a series of bills, including an animal
sentience bill, and will cover farm animals and pets in the UK, and include
protections for animals abroad, through bans on ivory and shark fins, and a
potential ban on foie gras.
Some of the measures – including microchipping cats and stopping people keeping
primates as pets – have been several years in preparation, and others – such as
the restriction of live animal exports – have been the subject of decades-long
campaigns.
George Eustice, the environment secretary, said: “We are a nation of animal
lovers and were the first country in the world to pass animal welfare laws. Our
action plan for animal welfare will deliver on our manifesto commitment to ban
the export of live animal exports for slaughter and fattening, prohibit keeping
primates as pets, and bring in new laws to tackle puppy smuggling. As an
independent nation, we are now able to go further than ever to build on our
excellent track record.”
The action plan for animal welfare includes measures that will involve cracking
down on pet theft, which has become a growing problem in the “puppy boom”
sparked by the coronavirus lockdowns with a new taskforce. Controversial
e-collars that deliver an electric shock to train pets will be banned, and
import rules changed to try to stop puppy smuggling."
Via Glyn Moody, who wrote "kudos to UK gov -
if it follows through, and there
are no big loopholes…"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
