Policy papers and consultations

We are seeking your views on changes to the microchipping regulations. We want to make it easier to reunite lost or stolen cats and dog and improve breeder traceability.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 29 March 2024

Seeking views on the proposed licensing scheme for private primate keepers in England and the draft standards for care and management of primates.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 14 December 2023

Seeking views on the government’s proposals to introduce penalty notices for animal health and welfare offences in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 11 December 2023

We are seeking your views about improving England’s equine identification and traceability system.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 23 September 2022

This paper outlines the laws protecting Eurasian beavers and their habitats and the steps to follow when managing Eurasian beavers in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and 1 others
• Updated: 2 September 2022

Seeking evidence on the impacts of potential animal welfare labelling.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 30 August 2022

How the UK government and devolved governments propose to work together in animal health and welfare policy areas.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 3 February 2022

Creating a modernised and responsive scientific basis for regulating veterinary medicines.

• From: Veterinary Medicines Directorate
• Updated: 29 November 2021

We are seeking your views on our proposed changes to the rules around the movement of pets into Great Britain.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 21 August 2021

Seeking views on ending live animal exports for slaughter and fattening, starting in or transported through England or Wales, and on further improvements to animal welfare in transport.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 18 August 2021

Seeking views on our proposals to ban the keeping of primates as pets and how this ban might be enforced.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 8 June 2021

Our Action Plan for Animal Welfare sets out government’s plans, aims and ambitions across animal welfare.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 12 May 2021

The contingency plan provides an overview of the response to an outbreak of exotic notifiable disease at the UK level.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 9 April 2021

Review and evidence analysis of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 27 January 2021

Seeking views on our draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 26 October 2018

Seeking evidence on improving animal welfare in transport, particularly on controlling live animal exports for slaughter, after the UK leaves the EU.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 15 August 2018

Sets out the detail of laws the government plans to make, introducing new penalties for animal cruelty, and covering other animal welfare issues.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 7 August 2018

We are seeking your views on the effectiveness of import controls on live animals and products of animal origin in England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 26 July 2018

Seeking views on a new statutory code of practice for the welfare of meat chickens and meat breeding chickens, for England.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 9 January 2018

Seeking views on mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses for animal welfare purposes.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Updated: 12 November 2017