United Kingdom
Animal Sentience Bill
Summary Description
Sets a new framework for the proper consideration of animal sentience in policy and legislative-making.
Species
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Sub-Jurisdiction
N/A
Type of Act
Legislation
Status
Bill Proposal
Legal Value
N/A
Date Enacted
N/A
Date Updated
June, 2023
Official Citation
Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 (UK)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Legally recognises that animals are living, feeling beings with complex thoughts and emotions, each able to experience pain, fear, love, and joy.
- Requires that the UK government consider the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings when making and implementing policies – which could help protect them from abuse or harm.
- Recognises all vertebrate animals and some invertebrates (decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs, i.e., crabs, lobsters, and octopuses) as 'sentient beings.'
Weaknesses
- Sentience is undefined.
- The new committee will not have enforcement or advisory powers, meaning it is only able to scrutinize and report on whether government policy is adequately considering the interests of animals - which activists and journalists already do.
- Amendment extending sentience to the small number of invertebrates will not change existing industry practices.
Related Laws/Policies
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