Activists outraged over animal testing backdoor in welfare bill
Meat, dairy, fishing, and entertainment sectors abuse animals. New UK regulations allow one sector to hurt animals, despite recent advances.
This week, the second Animal Welfare Bill, which protects pets and cattle, will provide animals with more space, controlled temperatures, and shorter journeys.
After a 12-week consultation with business and the public, the revisions will affect 1 billion UK-farmed animals.
The law also targets puppy smuggling, exporting live animals for slaughter, pet primates, and zoo regulation reform.
What's missing from the Animal Welfare Bill?
The legislation may not stop animal testing, activists worry.
“The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill does have some very positive components that will better the life of animals,” says Animal Aid campaigns manager Tod Bradbury.
"However, the government mustn't overlook the agony imposed on animals in laboratories, where millions of animals die every year in Britain."
“It must commit to phasing out all animal experimentation, with a focus on boosting financing for human-relevant, non-animal methods,” Bradbury said.
Animal testing continues but is ineffective.
Hundreds of UK and EU cosmetics include animal-tested components, according to recent research.
The EU's animal testing ban and REACH, a health regulation, contradict.
The European Products Agency's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) requires corporations to prove the safety of their chemicals.
Because firms don't know which law to follow, REACH has led to numerous cosmetic ingredients being tested on animals.
Since leaving the EU, the UK government has claimed it can raise animal welfare regulations. The UK government follows the European Chemicals Agency even though cosmetics animal experimentation is banned.
Many animal rights advocates worry this suggests the UK government is allowing animal testing in some situations.
57,000 people have signed 38 Degrees' petition to oppose this.
Jarrod Bailey, science director at Animal Free Research UK, says, “There is no specific justification for such testing; what we find in animal tests can't consistently predict safety in humans.”
“Many firms don't want to undertake these tests or perceive the need for them. The European Commission doesn't want to test, and the public is outraged.
I've seen from several sources that the UK government has indicated this won't happen. I really hope they mean that, but the evidence is in the pudding.”
This week, the second Animal Welfare Bill, which protects pets and cattle, will provide animals with more space, controlled temperatures, and shorter journeys.
After a 12-week consultation with business and the public, the revisions will affect 1 billion UK-farmed animals.
The law also targets puppy smuggling, exporting live animals for slaughter, pet primates, and zoo regulation reform.
What's missing from the Animal Welfare Bill?
The legislation may not stop animal testing, activists worry.
“The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill does have some very positive components that will better the life of animals,” says Animal Aid campaigns manager Tod Bradbury.
"However, the government mustn't overlook the agony imposed on animals in laboratories, where millions of animals die every year in Britain."
“It must commit to phasing out all animal experimentation, with a focus on boosting financing for human-relevant, non-animal methods,” Bradbury said.
Animal testing continues but is ineffective.
Hundreds of UK and EU cosmetics include animal-tested components, according to recent research.
The EU's animal testing ban and REACH, a health regulation, contradict.
The European Products Agency's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) requires corporations to prove the safety of their chemicals.
Because firms don't know which law to follow, REACH has led to numerous cosmetic ingredients being tested on animals.
Since leaving the EU, the UK government has claimed it can raise animal welfare regulations. The UK government follows the European Chemicals Agency even though cosmetics animal experimentation is banned.
Many animal rights advocates worry this suggests the UK government is allowing animal testing in some situations.
57,000 people have signed 38 Degrees' petition to oppose this.
Jarrod Bailey, science director at Animal Free Research UK, says, “There is no specific justification for such testing; what we find in animal tests can't consistently predict safety in humans.”
“Many firms don't want to undertake these tests or perceive the need for them. The European Commission doesn't want to test, and the public is outraged.
I've seen from several sources that the UK government has indicated this won't happen. I really hope they mean that, but the evidence is in the pudding.”
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