The Laws Surrounding Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is an issue that is becoming increasingly more prominent in society. As consumer preferences continue to change, many individuals are knowingly avoiding companies who test on animals. In consideration of this, we decided to take a look into some laws that are in place to protect animals and regulate their use in product testing.

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is the primary law, relating to animal welfare, protecting all vertebrate animals. This act strictly prohibits animal cruelty and acknowledges owners and keepers as having a duty of care to their animals, ensuring they meet all the necessary needs and requirements of the animal. Anyone who does not adhere to the act may face consequences, which include: being banned from owning animals, facing an unlimited fine and being sent to prison for up to 5 years.

Another law which has been introduced, more recently, is the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 which is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This is the first time in law that animals have been recognised as sentient beings, meaning that animals are now acknowledged as ‘living, feeling beings with complex thoughts and emotions, for example fear, love, pain and joy’.

Cosmetics animal testing has been banned in the UK since 1998, many other countries also hold the same principles, yet sadly there are still some countries yet to pass this as a law. Other industries, however, for instance medicines, household cleaning products and agricultural chemicals, must use animals for testing before moving onto human trials.

The leaping bunny certification is an internationally accredited gold standard for cruelty free cosmetics. If this logo is present on a brands packaging, it highlights that the company has undergone rigorous checks to ensure that it does not test on animals at any stage of production. It is important to note that not every cruelty free brand has this certification, obtaining this accreditation can be a costly and lengthy process, meaning that smaller or newer brands may not possess it.

There are many cosmetic brands that allegedly still test on animals in 2024, including some big industry names that may serve as a shock. Some of these names include: Estée Lauder, Clarins, Elemis, Benefit, Batiste and Aveeno.

Another rather topical area is that of the use and purchasing of real fur and leather products. In regard to the UK, fur farming is banned, however it is still legal to produce and import fur. Many individuals choose not to purchase real fur products due to the exceedingly unethical nature of sourcing the material, leading to the fur industry being a declining trade and the emergence of faux fur products increasing in popularity. Furthermore, most of the leather goods in the US and Europe come from countries like India and China that do not have animal welfare laws in place or, if they do, the laws go largely unenforced. Similarly, to the fur industry, there has been a noticeable rise in faux leather products, a cheaper and more ethical alternative.

Now, in regard to pets, it is reported that there are around 36 million pets in the UK, excluding aquatic animals. Many pet owners prioritise the welfare of their pet above their own and see them as a crucial part of their family. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 covers specific aspects to protect animals who are generally seen as pets, for example it contains a general ban of the tail docking of dogs. The only exemptions to this ban are for certain breeds of working dog, or where the docking is performed for medical purposes. Whilst tail docking is illegal in many parts of the world, controversially, the US is still to regulate this procedure.

Another law, that has been in place for over 50 years, yet is unfamiliar to many, is regarding our feline friends – cats. Cats are regarded, in law, as property, under the Theft Act 1968. This means that the theft of a cat is treated as an offence under the Act, so even if cats are persistent in their efforts to rehome themselves, taking them in is classed as theft.

It is important that we continue to pave the way for animal rights, ensuring that they are not exposed to cruelty. Whilst the UK are continuing to commence with their positive efforts to advocate for animal welfare, many other countries are still behind in their endeavours. Hopefully this article has provided some insight into what the legal landscape looks like regarding animals.