Farmed Animals

Animal Sentience and Livestock Welfare Policy

Recognition of farm animal sentience in law has significant implications for welfare standards and policy development.

Key Facts

The UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 established an Animal Sentience Committee
The EU Treaty of Lisbon recognised animal sentience in Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU
Scientific consensus supports sentience in all vertebrates and some invertebrates
Recognition of sentience strengthens the ethical basis for welfare legislation
Lobbying from agricultural industries has influenced the scope and implementation of sentience legislation

Welfare Considerations

The formal legal recognition of animal sentience provides a stronger foundation for welfare legislation and policy. When the law acknowledges that farm animals are sentient beings capable of suffering, this strengthens the case for higher welfare standards and greater resource allocation to welfare research and enforcement. Ongoing advocacy is needed to ensure sentience recognition translates into meaningful policy change.

What You Can Do

Support organisations advocating for stronger sentience-based welfare legislation
Engage with consultations on animal sentience policy developments
Raise awareness about the policy significance of sentience recognition
Advocate for sentience committee recommendations to be acted upon in policy
Support welfare research that informs sentience-based policy development