44 Animal Welfare Laws Risk Being Scrapped In The UK Due To Brexit

The RSPCA has raised concerns that 44 EU animal welfare laws could be at risk of being scrapped in the UK due to Brexit. The Retained EU Law Bill currently passing through the House of Commons requires specific action to save these laws, including bans on battery cages for hens and animal testing for cosmetics, among others. If not written into British law by the end of 2023, these laws could vanish, leaving animals vulnerable.

To address this issue, the RSPCA is lobbying the government to either drop the Retained EU Law Bill entirely or extend the deadline for assessing animal protection laws to 2026. The organization is also calling for more transparency regarding the status of these laws. Despite claims of prioritizing animal welfare, recent budget cuts to the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs raise concerns about the UK's ability to adopt EU animal protection laws and uphold its position as a global leader in animal welfare.