The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has said that it is disappointed with the lack of progress on animal welfare issues since Brexit, which it said was a “real opportunity” to improve animal welfare in the UK.
The director of policy at the charity, Emma Slawinski, said that now, three years on, many of the key initiatives and opportunities to improve animal welfare have “been dropped or seemingly postponed indefinitely”.
“We’re appalled that proposed bans on the import of foie gras and fur products were shelved by the UK government, and frustrated that progress now appears to have ground to a halt on the Kept Animals Bill, which would have consigned to history cruel practices such as exporting live animals for slaughter along with banning the import of puppies, dogs with cropped ears and pregnant bitches.
“Such policies would not have been possible if we had remained a member of the EU – but after Brexit, we must now make them a reality.”
The Kept Animals Bill would make provision about the welfare of certain kept animals that are in, imported into, or exported from Great Britain.
Slawinski said that the welfare of animals post-Brexit would be proved as a government priority if it passed the Kept Animals Bill sooner rather than later.
“The UK government’s policy agenda for animal welfare seems to be on the verge of complete collapse, and we are now running out of time to seize those promised Brexit benefits for animals.
“If the UK government is to make any progress at all on its manifesto commitments, it needs quick, meaningful action on the Kept Animals Bill.
“Ministers cannot allow a fourth year of Brexit to pass without securing this progress for animal welfare.”
