View source for Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023

The '''Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023''' is a UK legislation that prohibits the sale and advertising of activities abroad which involve low standards of welfare for animals.<ref name=":0">[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/45 Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023]  uk.gov</ref> This Act was enacted on 18th September 2023.<ref name=":0" />

The Act makes it illegal to offer or sell an opportunity to observe or participate in an activity that involves animals and takes place outside the UK if it is of a kind that has been specified by the government.<ref name=":1">[https://www.simplegov.uk/bill/3223 Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023] simplegov.uk</ref> The government can only specify an activity if it believes that it causes poor living conditions or treatment for the animals involved.<ref name=":1" />

The Act covers activities where animals are subject to unnecessary suffering or are kept in confinement, for example, their use in tourist entertainment.<ref>[https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/LLN-2023-0037/2023-0037-Animals-%28Low-Welfare-Activities-Abroad%29-Bill-LARGE.pdf Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill HL Bill 122 of 2022–23] House of Lords</ref> It also allows the government to bring forward a ban on the advertising and sale of specific unethical activities abroad where animals are kept in captivity or confinement, subjected to cruel and brutal training methods, forced to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed.<ref name=":2">[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/legislation-to-clamp-down-on-cruel-animal-experiences-abroad Press release: Legislation to clamp down on cruel animal experiences abroad] gov.uk</ref>

This legislation was introduced by Angela Richardson MP and Lord Black of Brentwood, and it was supported by the government.<ref>[https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3223 Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023] Parliamentary Bills </ref>