Animal Welfare Bill becomes law:

The Animal Welfare Bill received Royal Assent on 8th November 2006, having completed all stages through Parliament. It is now known as the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Act will come into effect on 6 April 2007. To read the Act in full click here.

DEFRA began a public consultation back in January 2002, many larger and smaller animals welfare groups as well as individuals were involved, EDDR included, we asked for the Dangerous Dogs Act legislation to be reviewed, sadly it was not. There was heated debate, the results of which were published later that year in August. A draft Animal Welfare Bill was then published in July 2004, a House of Commons Select Committee examined the Bill and reported its findings in December 2004, the Government responded to this report in March 2005.
The Bill was then introduced to the House of Commons  in October 2005, completing its Second Reading on 10th January 2006, the Commons Committee examined the Bill before it went on to its third reading last March. The Bill was then introduced to the House of Lords, having its first reading in March, its Second reading in April and its Third Reading on 1st November.

The Act modernises much animal welfare legislation, some almost a hundred years old and relates to both farmed and non farmed animals.  The Act introduces a duty on owners and keepers of all vertebrate animals to ensure the welfare of animals in their care.
It will mean that, where necessary, those responsible for the enforcement of welfare laws can take action if an owner is not taking all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of their animal, even if it is not currently suffering.

Some of the key points will include:

• The enabling of preventative action to be taken before suffering occurs, enforcers will be able to intervene and take action to prevent suffering.

• A duty of care placed on those who are responsible for domestic and companion animals requiring them to do all that is reasonable to ensure the welfare of their animals.

• A new offence is introduced - owners will have to take reasonable steps to provide their animals with a proper diet, water, suitable housing, protection from pain, suffering and injury. Animals will have to be able to express normal behaviour.

• Proposal for secondary legislation to promote the welfare of farmed animals to non-farmed animals. Click here to view the proposals for secondary legislation which will include the registration of animal sanctuaries with their local authority and a code of practice covering the rehoming of dogs.

• Strengthens penalties to deter persistent offenders.

• Consolidation of over 20 pieces of legislation into this one Act.

• The extension of animal welfare codes agreed by parliament to companion animals.

• Updated offences and stronger punishments for causing unnecessary suffering, animal fighting, tail docking, mutilations and administering poisons.

• Increase from 12 to 16yrs the min. age at which a child can buy an animal.

For further information, there is a question and answers section available here.

You can also contact DEFRA:

Animal Welfare Bill Team
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 506
1A Page Street
London, SW1P 4PQ
Fax: 0207 904 6710
Email: animal.welfarebill@defra.gsi.gov.uk Defra Helpline on 08459 335577.