The Parliamentary Veterinary Intern regularly makes briefings for Lord Trees. They are intended to be a concise, evidence-based summary of a topic, usually relating to forthcoming parliamentary business of interest. While freely accessible, we kindly request appropriate acknowledgment of the information's source in any references made.
Briefings
Commonly referred to as the 'Puppy Smuggling' bill, Lord Trees is sponsoring this Private Members Bill as it makes it way through the House of Lords in Autumn 2025. Being the third iteration of the bill after inclusion in the Kept Animals Bill and a bill of identical name from the previous Government, will this important piece of animals welfare legislation make it through this parliamentary session? It aims to close loop holes in existing non-commercial importation of pets being exploited by unscrupulous traders wishing to avoid the more stringent health and welfare measures associated with commercial importation.
Discover a brief overview of the bovine tuberculosis situation in the UK, current policy practices and recommendations for future policy with the long-term goal of achieving eradication by 2038. This document is intended to be succinct summary to inform decision makers of the current issues and needs for future bTB control.
Discover the plethora of bovine tuberculosis diagnostic tests which are available in the UK, their policy application, limitations and future need for more flexible policy to detect diseased animals left undetected by statutory testing.
Explore the current methods for pig stunning in the UK, their shortfalls regarding animal welfare and carcass quality, and the urgent need for industry, academia, and government to develop alternative pig stunning methods suitable for commercial use in the UK.
Veterinary Workforce Shortages - Key Facts
Find below the key facts of the extent of the UK's veterinary workforce shortage.
Statutory Instrument signed into law 5th March 2024.
There are up to 5,000 primates kept privately, as pets, in the UK. This legislation begins a government manifesto commitment to ban this trade and promote primate welfare.
Granted Royal Assent 20th March 2024.
The government is soon to join a free trade agreement (FTA) with 11 countries in the Indo-Pacific. There are concerns, as with many FTAs, of the animal health and welfare, human health and environmental implications of this agreement.
Similar to the Animal Welfare (Imports of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, this amendment legislation was included in the Kept Animals Bill and was also tabled by the previous Government before it fell at dissolution. Livestock worrying is as growing issue in the UK as pet dog numbers increase and there are more visits to the countryside. This legislation will be vital to protect more livestock species from attacks and worrying by dogs and improve police powers for the seizure and detaining of suspect dogs.
Explore an overview of the bovine tuberculosis situation in the UK, key legislation and policies, the science behind current policy measures, their flaws and recommended science-based policy to ensure the sustainability of the sector for both farmer welfare and animal health.
For interest and as supplementary for the other bovine tuberculosis briefings on the statutory testing regimes in England, Wales and Scotland as of December 2024.
Granted Royal Assent 24th May 2024.
As part of the round-up of the Kept Animals Bill the Government backs this Private Members Bill, sponsored by Anna Firth MP, to create offences of dog and cat abduction, improve animal theft data collection and ultimately improve animal welfare.
Explore the historical context of the veterinary workforce shortages, how the profession has changed, putative reasons for the shortage, actions taken so far and future recommendations.
Granted Royal Assent 20th May 2024.
As part of the round-up of the Kept Animals Bill, the government have banned the export of certain livestock for fattening and slaughter to end the welfare implications experienced with excessively long journeys.
Last updated October 2024.
Find a list of all the primary and secondary legislation regarding animal welfare that has been passed since 2012. With several bills on their way through parliament keep an eye out for updates as more legislation is passed.
