Industry News - Common Sentience

Common Sentience

The new Animal Sentience Committee will now have to respect cultural traditions, religion and heritage when scrutinising government policy following a successful amendment, supported by BASC, to the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill.

A group of 31 MPs proposed an amendment accepted by the government at the report stage of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill that incorporates the original wording of Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty.

The Bill, which is responsible for creating an Animal Sentience Committee that scrutinises government policy on animal welfare, will now have to “respect legislative or administrative provisions and customs relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage”.

The amendment was put forward by Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP (pictured), BASC vice president and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Shooting and Conservation, and Jonathan Djanogly MP, chairman of the British Shooting Sports Council.

Christopher Graffius of the BASC said: “Our thanks go to the MPs who have worked hard to secure this amendment and to the government for listening to the concerns expressed and acting to resolve them. BASC will work with the Committee when it is established to ensure it remains evidence-led and proportionate in its work.”