Brexit and Animal Welfare Impact Assessment: Analysis of the Opportunities Brexit Presents for Animal Protection in the UK, EU, and Internationally

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe British people voted in 2016 to leave the European Union (EU). The UK has a unique history as a leader in animal protection policy. It has a relatively large economy and significant political power on a global basis. Brexit presents both threats and opportunities to animal protection in the United Kingdom (UK), EU, and internationally. This paper assesses the opportunities Brexit presents for animal protection in terms of five criteria. These are first, the political situation; second, regulatory changes; third, economic and trade factors; fourth, institutional considerations; and fifth, EU and international impacts. Brexit provides the opportunity to reform UK farming to promote high animal welfare outside of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Brexit means the UK can ban live animal exports and the import and sale of fur products and foie gras outside of the EU. Leaving the EU permits the UK to have stricter requirements for the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) to control puppy smuggling. Brexit provides an opportunity for the UK Government to reform policy-making for sentient animals. New sentience legislation could establish a fully independent UK Animal Welfare Advisory body and mandate Government to use animal welfare impact assessments on all policy that affects sentient species. Despite such opportunities, the UK Government appears uncommitted to major reforms. The drafting of the Agriculture Bill does not suggest a progressive animal welfare agenda. For live exports, the Government will consult on how to improve welfare, rather than outright prohibition. Similarly, rather than ban the import and sale of fur, the Government will use its influence to improve the welfare of fur-farmed animals outside the UK. Brexit provides some opportunities for animal protection. Pre-Brexit, the Government has not demonstrated the political will and commitment to realise these opportunities.AbstractThe British people voted in a 2016 referendum to leave the European Union (EU). Brexit presents threats and opportunities to animal protection in the United Kingdom (UK), the EU, and internationally. This paper discusses opportunities for animal protection in terms of five criteria. These are first, political context; second, regulatory changes; third, economic and trade factors; fourth, institutional- and capacity-related factors; and fifth, EU and international considerations. Brexit permits reform of UK agricultural policy outside of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to reward high welfare as a public good. The Agriculture Bill, however, does not suggest a radical reform agenda for animal welfare. Brexit permits a ban on live exports, but the UK Government is consulting on improving welfare, not prohibition. Brexit provides an opportunity to ban the import and sale of fur, but the UK Government has signalled it will work to improve welfare in fur farming. Brexit permits the UK to prohibit the import and sale of foie gras, but the Government has stated a ban may be challenged at the World Trade Organisation (...

European illegal puppy trade and organised crime

“…In the UK context, Brexit presented a unique opportunity to make enforcement robust with the possibility to change PETS, but it is not clear at the time of writing that such steps have been taken in the new legislation being debated (e.g. increasing the minimum age requirement for moving or importing dogs, decreasing the numbers permitted and enhancing rabies requirements—EFRA 2020 ; McCulloch 2019 ). Of particular concern for the UK puppy trade is that animal sentience was not included in the UK’s withdrawal bill from the EU although it is recognised in the Lisbon Treaty.…”

Animal welfare chauvinism in Brexit Britain: a genealogy of care and control

“…Animal welfare issues not only animated 'secretive' online campaigning during the Brexit referendum but also formed a strong current of general media debate about what leaving the EU would mean, with both sides predicting dire consequences for animals should the other side win. Some of this was measured debate about an important series of policy trade-offs (McCulloch 2018(McCulloch , 2019. As the RSPCA estimated, because so much activity involving animals impinges on the functioning of the European Single Market, approximately 80% of UK animal welfare regulations were indeed based on EU laws at this time (RSPCA 2016).…”

Beliefs and Attitudes of British Residents about the Welfare of Fur-Farmed Species and the Import and Sale of Fur Products in the UK

“…The import and sale of fur continue partly because the UK has been a member of the European Union (EU). McCulloch [ 21 ] has summarised the political context of the UK fur industry in a paper discussing the opportunities Brexit presents for animal welfare. In the EU, there is free movement of goods, capital, services and labour in the single market.…”

“…It is likely the UK would have been challenged at the European Court of Justice by fur-producing member states had it implemented a unilateral ban as a member of the EU. The UK formally left the EU in January 2020, and Brexit, therefore, represents an opportunity for the UK to ban the import and sale of fur products in the UK [ 21 ].…”