Policy paper

Draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill 2017

Sets out the detail of laws the government plans to make, introducing new penalties for animal cruelty, and covering other animal welfare issues.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 12 December 2017
• Last updated: 7 August 2018 — See all updates

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

Documents

Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Draft Bill

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-0149-8, CCS1217573596, Cm. 9554

PDF, 536 KB, 20 pages

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Details

This paper, laid in Parliament on Tuesday 12 December 2017, includes the draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill 2017, and the explanatory notes that accompany it.

The draft bill would do two things. It would increase the maximum penalty for animal cruelty offences from 6 months to 5 years imprisonment, and it would ensure that animals are defined in UK law as sentient beings.

We sought views on our draft Bill and have published a response to the consultation.

Published 12 December 2017
Last updated 7 August 2018 + show all updates

1. 7 August 2018

   Added a link to the summary of responses for the consultation carried out on this draft bill.

2. 12 December 2017

   First published.