Animal Sentience Committee
The Animal Sentience Committee considers how central government policy decisions take account of animal welfare.
The Animal Sentience Committee can examine any decision made by UK government ministers on:
- policy development
- policy implementation
The committee’s remit does not extend to decisions made by ministers in the devolved administrations. The committee focuses on the welfare of animals as sentient beings, not on the definition or philosophical meaning of animal sentience.
The committee publishes reports containing their views on whether ministers have fully considered any negative impact that a policy or piece of legislation may have on the welfare of sentient animals.
Ministers must respond to these reports through a written statement to Parliament. They must make this written statement within 3 months of the report’s publication.
Our vision
Our vision is that all UK central Government policy decisions will pay due regard to the ways in which they may affect the welfare of sentient animals.
Our mission statement
The Animal Sentience Committee considers whether, in our view, central UK government has paid all due regard to how policies may affect animal welfare. We independently select which policies to look at. This includes every stage, from the very beginning to when the policy is finally put into practice. We work across all central government departments to help ensure that animal welfare is considered, alongside everything else that is important to the public.
Our values
We are:
- collaborative - we engage with central government and stakeholders
- evidence-based - we consider scientific evidence and stakeholder perspectives, drawing objective conclusions
- transparent - we communicate openly
- challenging - to ourselves and others, regarding animal sentience and the priority given to welfare needs
- compassionate - towards animals and people
Terms of reference
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Our priorities
Our priorities are to:
- furnish accountability to Parliament for consideration of the welfare of sentient animals in ministerial decision making
- engage with government departments to form an overview of all emerging, current and recent policy decisions of potential interest
- select policies for detailed scrutiny using a triage process
- take evidence from stakeholders and independent experts where appropriate
- provide guidance to policymakers on potential unforeseen impacts or mitigation strategies, where possible
- produce reports containing the committee’s views as to whether, or to what extent, the government is having, or has had, all due regard to the ways in which the policy might have an adverse effect on the welfare needs of sentient animals affected
Our reports
- Animal Sentience Committee: report on the due regard to animal welfare – legislative compliance and enforcement - GOV.UK
- Animal Sentience Committee: Renters (Reform) Bill report
- Animal Sentience Committee: Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act report
- Animal Sentience Committee: assessment of Veterinary Medicines Regulations (2013) revisions
- Animal Sentience Committee: Online Safety Act report
Government responses
- Government response to the Animal Sentience Committee’s report on animal welfare legislation enforcement
- Government response to the Animal Sentience Committee’s report on the Online Safety Act
- Government response to the Animal Sentience Committee’s report on the Renters (Reform) Bill Report
Our correspondence
- Letter regarding food labelling policy
- Letter on XL Bully dogs and the Dangerous Dogs Act
- Letter assessing changes to bovine identification, registration and movement
- Letter regarding planning policy proposals
Members
Michael Seals CBE (Chair)
Michael Seals CBE is the former chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England and current chairman of Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority, helping to support the long-term future of the animal medicine sector.
Professor Richard Bennett
Professor Richard Bennett is a Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Reading. He is also a council member of the Humane Slaughter Association and the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. He has undertaken research on the economics of animal health and welfare for over 35 years.
Richard Cooper
Richard Cooper is a practising veterinary surgeon with a passionate interest in the welfare of animals, but more specifically in the continual improvement of farm animal welfare standards at a commercial level. He served on Defra’s Animal Welfare Committee for 8 years before joining the Animal Sentience Committee.
Dr Penny Hawkins
Dr Penny Hawkins has 30 years of experience in life science research, practical bioethics and animal welfare.
Professor Anna Meredith OBE
Professor Anna Meredith is the Executive Dean for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Keele University. She has significant experience providing advice to the government, including her role as chair of the Zoo Experts Committee for 10 years.
Professor Christine Nicol
Professor Christine Nicol has experience in veterinary research environments and has published over 200 scientific publications. Her work addresses the conceptual issues around measuring welfare and the evaluation of practical solutions.
Register of interests
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