Committee publication · Correspondence · 21 October 2025
Correspondence from the Animal Sentience Committee regarding its report on Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, dated 13 October 2025
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Animal and plant health
Summary
The Animal Sentience Committee has published a report on the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill and is notifying the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee of its findings. The report examines whether the Government has given due regard to the welfare impacts on sentient animals. A Government response is required by 5 January 2026.
Key findings
- The Animal Sentience Committee has produced a report assessing the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill
- The report examines whether the Government has had all due regard to adverse effects on animal welfare as sentient beings
- The report has been published on gov.uk
- A formal Government response is required by 5 January 2026
Tone
ProceduralTopics
animal-welfaresentiencelegislation
Key actors
Alistair Carmichael, Michael Seals, Animal Sentience Committee, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Notable line
“The Committee may produce reports containing its views on whether, or to what extent, the Government is having, or has had …”
Key Quotes
“The Animal Sentience Committee was established by the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 to furnish accountability to Parliament for consideration of the welfare of sentient animals in Ministerial decisions.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗