England’s new Animal Welfare Strategy – how does Scotland compare?

On Monday, the UK government released its new Animal Welfare Strategy, which they are calling the “biggest animal welfare reforms in a generation”. But as animal welfare is a devolved policy, the reforms will mostly only apply to England. So let’s take a look at what they are, and what Scotland must do to ensure we do not fall behind.

Some of the most significant proposals include: a ban on cages for hens and mother pigs, the last farmed animals to be routinely and cruelly confined; an end to trail hunting, used as a smokescreen to hunt foxes with dogs; banning snares; banning puppy farming and electric shock collars.

Also included in the strategy are various proposals to increase the welfare of animals at the time of killing, including introducing ‘humane’ slaughter requirements for fish (who were previously denied the detailed, species-specific legal protections that apply to land animals), a definitive end to the practice of boiling animals like lobsters and crabs alive, and phasing out of CO2 stunning of pigs, in favour of less aversive methods like argon gas stunning and automated electrical stunning.

While Animal Concern welcomes any changes to prevent suffering, we wish to clarify that replacing one method of killing with another, however ‘less aversive,’ cannot be described as humane. True progress for animals requires moving beyond welfare tweaks within an inherently violent system and toward food systems that do not rely on animal exploitation. Nevertheless, we welcome interim improvements while we continue to push for systemic change.

Now, let’s examine how Scotland measures up against the commitments outlined above.

Y = equivalent legislation already in place in Scotland.

X = no equivalent legislation in place in Scotland.

COMPANION ANIMALS

X Ending puppy farming

Scots law does not currently ban large-scale commercial dog breeding, leaving loopholes that allow intensive “puppy farming” to continue. The Scottish Government should introduce stronger legislation to close these gaps and prevent the mass production of dogs in intensive conditions. Animal Concern believes these protections should be extended beyond puppies to cover all animals bred for the pet trade - including rabbits, rodents, fish and reptiles. We believe governments have a duty to actively promote adoption, restrict commercial breeding, and invest in measures that reduce demand for bred animals and address the growing rescue and rehoming crisis.

X Banning electric shock collars

Despite the Scottish government officially condemning the use of cruel shock collars back in 2018, they remain legal. Only Wales has implemented a ban. It is about time the Scottish government put their money where their mouth is on this important issue.

WILDLIFE

Y Banning trail hunting

Trail hunting (laying an animal based scent for hounds to follow) was banned in Scotland in 2023. However, it is still legal to shoot foxes and use dogs to flush them from cover, for so called ‘pest control’ purposes. Animal Concern believes foxes are not pests, but wild animals playing an important role in ecosystems. Continuing to allow lethal control undermines the spirit of the hunting ban. We call on the Scottish Government to give foxes full protection and outlaw their killing.

Loopholes that allow fox hunts to continue must be closed for good.

Y Banning snares

Snaring was banned in Scotland last year. However, it remains legal to hunt many animals like deer, hares and many birds – including many bred into existence, released and shot purely for entertainment. Animal Concern believes the government has a duty to promote and implement non-lethal alternatives to wildlife management and immediately ban the production, release and shooting of birds for sport.

FARMED ANIMALS

X Ending cages for hens and pigs

The Scottish government must follow England’s lead and immediately phase out cruel cages still used in the farming of pigs and egg-laying hens.

X Increased welfare at slaughter

The stated measures are not currently in place in Scotland. The Scottish Government must commit to meeting or exceeding the proposed reforms to increase welfare at the time of killing, including specific slaughter regulations for fish, phasing out CO2 gas for pigs, and clearly outlawing boiling crustaceans alive.

The suffering pigs experience at slaughter exceeds any humane practices.

Animal Concern joins growing calls for the import of animal products that do not meet UK welfare standards to be banned, an issue merely skirted around in the Animal Welfare Strategy. Without such a ban, the UK government merely exports their animal cruelty abroad. The Strategy also includes further commitments that we haven’t had time to dig into, but you can read it in full here.

It’s also important to note that, while these commitments are promising, they aren’t guaranteed, and many will require lengthy consultations with stakeholders. Now is the time to step up the pressure and make sure they deliver.

Stay tuned into our social media in the upcoming months as we notify you of action alerts that will ensure promises are turned into real action for animals.