England’s Animal Welfare Laws (how to improve them)
Recently in the UK, Rishi Sunak reversed one of the good things that Boris Johnson did as Prime Minister, and scrapped one of the most forward-thinking animal welfare package of laws ever seen.
Whatever your views of him, Tory MP Zac Goldsmith resigned saying he was ‘horrified that the kept animals bill has been ditched’.
RSPCA and British Veterinary Association were also appalled, as the Bill would have tackled puppy smuggling, banned import of dogs with cropped ears and reviewed zoo standards.
Advocates for Animals is the first UK law firm that works with individuals, animal groups and activists on a wide range of legal areas, to enforce and protect animals.
A-Law has lots of free info onsite, collectively run by volunteer lawyers.
These organisations are similar to the USA’s Animal Legal Defense Fund whose attorneys specialise in helping animal legal cases, and also work to improve animal welfare laws.
Support England’s Animal Welfare Party
All the major political parties have MPs who are focused on animal welfare (and The Green Party has some good policies).
Whereas in England, ‘fringe candidates’ are often not taken seriously, in The Netherlands, Party for the Animals has six MPs and many local councillors. This has led to national law changes, showing what a difference can be made.
The party even has its own PINK! youth movement. Can you imagine that here? A party for animal welfare in parliament, with youth leaders making changes to policy? Recent policy success include:
- A ban on the import of calves
- Restrictions on hunting wild animals
- Reduction to help stop duck farming
- No more agricultural toxins
- Requesting an animal welfare minister
Co-founder Marianne Thieme writes that when the party was first created, they were laughed at, with critics asking ‘what next – a party for bicycles?’ But the party has done great work, proving the old adage ‘first you laugh at them, then you ignore then, then you get angry – and then you join them!’
Animal Welfare Party is the UK political party, which also focuses on policies to help the environment.
The manifesto includes redirecting subsidies from livestock and fisheries to plant-based agriculture (the transfarmation project is a good example, funding financially-struggling livestock farmers with the resources and training to join the profitable local oat-milk market, leaving animals to live out their lives in peace).
Other policies include:
- Promoting plant-based agriculture
- Ending live slaughter
- Ending slaughter without stunning
- CCTV for all abattoirs
- Phasing out factory farming
- Replacing animal experiments with humane research
- Strengthening laws for the pet trade
- Increasing penalties for animal abuse
Even if you’re not into ‘joining things’ you can help by voting for local candidates in council elections, and buy an organic cotton t-shirt (made with green energy) to spread the word!
TheyWorkForYou is a fantastic open-source website (so anyone worldwide can use the software to create a similar site).
Enter your postcode to find how your MP is and how he/she has voted on animal welfare policies. Other countries with thriving animal welfare political parties include:
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics, is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. Plato
World Federation for Animals
World Federation for Animals has an extensive library of policy suggestions, brought together by over 60 organisations embarking on a journey to ensure animal welfare is part of political, financial and business policy worldwide.
From helping animals involved in the food and fashion industries to looking at biodiversity and environmental issues, it covers everything from endangered species to marine creatures.
Chief Executive Officer Dr James Yeates was previously CEO of Cats Protection and the RSPCA’s Chief Veterinary Officer, and has advised UK MPs on animal welfare.
The Olsen Animal Trust is a wonderful organisation that supports many animal welfare projects both in England and abroad.
Inspired by helping to rescue a French circus lion (who with another lioness rescued from a Romanian zoo spent their final years shown compassion at a wildlife sanctuary, this family charity is a great place to find authentic projects to support.
The Animal Manifesto is a wonderful book by one of the world’s experts on animal emotions. This is a call to include all creatures in our circle of empathy and compassion, driven by moral reasons and environmental realities.
Marc Bekoff offers six compelling reasons for changing the way we treat animals – whether they are in factory farms, labs, circuses or our vanishing wilderness. This is a well-researched and informative guide to change their lives for the better.
DawnWatch is a wonderful idea from an animal welfare writer in the USA, which someone could do here. She basically has a site that lists all the current animal welfare concerns, so that people can collectively get involved by writing to MPs, boycotting brands or pressing for change. What a great idea!
Switzerland’s Strict Animal Welfare Laws
We can instead learn from Switzerland. It’s not perfect, but his beautiful country has very strict animal welfare laws. There are such good spaying/neuter programs that many people have to go over the border to adopt pets, as there are not as many homeless pets.
And it’s the law that if you have pets, you must take a course to look after them, including giving regular walks, twice daily. Read our posts on pet welfare.
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress, can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi
Swiss politics works very differently, with a panel (rather than one Prime Minister) and regular referendums, that go the public. Switzerland’s animal welfare laws rank among the toughest in the world, shaping how pets live, how farms operate, and how food reaches the table.
These rules matter for more than compassion alone. Strong welfare standards reduce suffering, support public health, and build trust in food systems. They also reflect a national belief that animals deserve protection as sentient beings, not just as property or products.
At the heart of the system sits the Federal Act on Animal Protection, updated in 2008, with detailed ordinances that cover daily care, housing, transport, breeding, and slaughter. The law is clear, practical, and backed by real consequences for those who break it.
Elements of Swiss Animal Welfare Laws
- Cosmetics and testing: Cosmetic testing on animals is not permitted. Switzerland aligns with European practice, which rejects cruel testing for beauty products. It’s also illegal to sell animal-tested cosmetics in England, but some companies still abroad (and Botox is tested on mice).
- Strict controls on intensive farming: The law sets minimum space, light, ventilation, and flooring standards. Farm animals must be able to stand up, lie down, turn around, and express normal behaviour. Pigs need dry, comfortable lying areas and materials for rooting. Cattle require enough room to rest and socialise.
- Pain relief and procedures: Painful procedures, such as castration or dehorning, are tightly regulated. Pain relief is mandatory, and only trained persons may carry out such procedures. Routine mutilations that serve convenience, not welfare, are banned. In England, this only happens on certified organic farm.
- Housing and enrichment: Animals need appropriate bedding, social contact, and environmental enrichment. Hens must have perches and nesting areas. Rabbits require platforms and places to hide. The goal is not just survival, but welfare.
- Transport and slaughter: Transport times are limited, stress must be reduced, and handlers must be trained. Stunning before slaughter is compulsory, including for religious slaughter. Domestic slaughter without stunning is illegal. Not so in England, despite it being okay for Muslims and Jews to be vegan or vegetarian within their religions.
- Applies to all animals: The law protects companion animals, farm animals, wild animals in captivity, and animals used in research. Guardians and keepers carry a clear duty of care.
- Penalties with bite: Violations can lead to fines of up to 20,000 Swiss francs, higher in serious or repeated cases. Authorities can impose bans on keeping animals and pursue criminal charges where cruelty is proven.
Protections for Pets and Companion Animals
Swiss rules for pets focus on daily wellbeing, not just avoiding cruelty.
- Identification and registration: Dogs must be microchipped and registered in the national database. This supports traceability, responsible ownership, and faster reunions if a dog goes missing.
- Bans on cosmetic mutilation: Tail docking and ear cropping are banned for dogs and many other species. These procedures cause pain and serve no welfare purpose.
- Breeding limits: Breeding is restricted where it risks inherited suffering. Extreme features that impair breathing, walking, or vision are not allowed. The authorities can ban or restrict breeding lines when health is at stake.
- Exercise and social contact: Dogs need daily outdoor exercise and social interaction. Guardians must give time, stimulation, and a safe environment. Keeping a dog alone in poor conditions breaches the law.
- Veterinary care: Guardians must provide timely vet care. Neglect, such as untreated injuries or chronic hunger, can lead to prosecution.
- Housing basics: Pet housing must protect from heat, cold, and hazards. Rabbits need space and hiding places. Cats need access to scratching and climbing. Small pets cannot be kept in cramped, barren cages.
Regulations for Farm Animals and Agriculture
Switzerland sets detailed standards for livestock that shape how farms design housing and manage daily routines.
- Space and comfort: Minimum space is defined by species and weight class. Cattle need clean lying areas and room to turn and rest. Pigs must have dry bedding and room to move. Flooring must avoid injury and allow natural postures.
- Hens and housing: Conventional battery cages are banned. Hens need perches, litter for dust bathing, and nesting boxes. Many farms use aviary or free-range systems that support more natural behaviour.
- Outdoor access and daylight: Stock benefit from natural light and fresh air. National programmes encourage regular outdoor access and animal-friendly housing, and many farms join these schemes to raise standards above the legal floor.
- Handling and procedures: Routine tail docking of pigs and similar practices are restricted. When a procedure is necessary, trained personnel must use pain relief.
- Transport and slaughter: Farms and abattoirs must reduce fear and pain. Stunning is compulsory. Staff must be trained and certified. Equipment is checked and maintained to prevent suffering.
These rules support higher welfare while guiding farmers with clear, practical benchmarks. Consumers gain confidence that food is produced with respect for animals.
