Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023: Difference between revisions

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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 '''Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill''' was a Private Members' Bill (Presentation Bill) that originated in the House of Commons, Session 2022-23. It was put forward by Angela Richardson and has Government support.<ref>[https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3223 Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill] Parliamentary Bills</ref> The Bill aimed to prohibit the sale, the offering for sale and the advertisement in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of low-welfare animal activities which take place abroad.<ref>[https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9720/ Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill] House of Commons Library</ref>
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 bill defines low-welfare animal activities as those that involve keeping an animal in conditions or subjecting it to treatment that would constitute an offence under the appropriate national legislation if it were to take place in the appropriate national authority’s part of the United Kingdom. The appropriate national authority may specify a description of activity in activity regulations only if it considers that an activity of that description involves or is likely to involve keeping the animal in such conditions or subjecting it to such treatment.
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>


According to the Explanatory Notes of the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill, enforcement powers will be given to local weights and measures authorities. The Bill provides for the imposition of monetary penalties by enforcement authorities for offences under the Bill. The enforcement authority may impose a monetary penalty on a person if it is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the person has committed an offence under the Bill.
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>


The bill had it's 3rd reading in the House of Lords on 18th September 2023 and was enacted into law.
== Penalties ==
A person who commits an offence under the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 is liable to the following penalties:
 
* On summary conviction in England and Wales, the person is liable to a fine.<ref name=":3">[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/45/2023-11-18/data.pdf Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023] legislation.gov.uk</ref>
* On summary conviction in Northern Ireland, the person is liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale<ref name=":3" />. The specific amount of the fine can vary depending on the circumstances of the offence and the decision of the court.<ref name=":3" />
 
The maximum fine for breaking the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 is not explicitly stated in the Act itself. The Act states that a person who commits an offence under this Act is liable to a fine on summary conviction.<ref name=":0" /> The specific amount of the fine can vary depending on the circumstances of the offence and the decision of the court.<ref name=":0" /> In England and Wales, there is generally no upper limit on a fine imposed on summary conviction.<ref name=":0" /> In Northern Ireland, the fine should not exceed level 5 on the standard scale.<ref name=":0" />
 
== Affect on UK citizens ==
The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 prohibits the sale and advertising of activities abroad which involve low standards of welfare for animals. This means that UK citizens who travel abroad will not be able to buy or book any right to observe or participate in such activities from any business in the UK. They will also not see any advertisements that promote such activities in the UK. Some examples of low-welfare animal activities are those that involve keeping an animal in captivity or confinement, subjecting it to cruel and brutal training methods, forcing it to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed. The Act aims to protect vulnerable animals from being exploited as tourist experiences and to encourage holidaymakers to make informed choices that do not encourage poor animal welfare practices.<ref name=":2" />


== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/45 Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023] Legislation.gov.uk
* [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0046/en/220046en.pdf ANIMALS (LOW-WELFARE ACTIVITIES ABROAD) BILL]
* [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/58-03/0046/en/220046en.pdf ANIMALS (LOW-WELFARE ACTIVITIES ABROAD) BILL]
* [https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/bills/2022-23/animalslowwelfareactivitiesabroad/debates Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill debates] Parallel Parliament  
* [https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/bills/2022-23/animalslowwelfareactivitiesabroad/debates Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill debates] Parallel Parliament  
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Latest revision as of 03:53, 19 March 2024

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.[1] This Act was enacted on 18th September 2023.[1]

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.[2] The government can only specify an activity if it believes that it causes poor living conditions or treatment for the animals involved.[2]

The Act covers activities where animals are subject to unnecessary suffering or are kept in confinement, for example, their use in tourist entertainment.[3] 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.[4]

This legislation was introduced by Angela Richardson MP and Lord Black of Brentwood, and it was supported by the government.[5]

Penalties

A person who commits an offence under the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 is liable to the following penalties:

  • On summary conviction in England and Wales, the person is liable to a fine.[6]
  • On summary conviction in Northern Ireland, the person is liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale[6]. The specific amount of the fine can vary depending on the circumstances of the offence and the decision of the court.[6]

The maximum fine for breaking the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 is not explicitly stated in the Act itself. The Act states that a person who commits an offence under this Act is liable to a fine on summary conviction.[1] The specific amount of the fine can vary depending on the circumstances of the offence and the decision of the court.[1] In England and Wales, there is generally no upper limit on a fine imposed on summary conviction.[1] In Northern Ireland, the fine should not exceed level 5 on the standard scale.[1]

Affect on UK citizens

The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 prohibits the sale and advertising of activities abroad which involve low standards of welfare for animals. This means that UK citizens who travel abroad will not be able to buy or book any right to observe or participate in such activities from any business in the UK. They will also not see any advertisements that promote such activities in the UK. Some examples of low-welfare animal activities are those that involve keeping an animal in captivity or confinement, subjecting it to cruel and brutal training methods, forcing it to take selfies or are ridden, drugged and de-clawed. The Act aims to protect vulnerable animals from being exploited as tourist experiences and to encourage holidaymakers to make informed choices that do not encourage poor animal welfare practices.[4]

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 uk.gov
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 simplegov.uk
  3. ↑ Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill HL Bill 122 of 2022–23 House of Lords
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Press release: Legislation to clamp down on cruel animal experiences abroad gov.uk
  5. ↑ Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 Parliamentary Bills
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 legislation.gov.uk
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