Welfare Science

Animal Welfare Legislation History and Future

A historical overview of animal welfare legislation and projections for future legal development.

Key Facts

UK Animal Welfare Act 2006 established a duty of care for companion animals
EU animal transport and slaughter regulations set minimum standards across member states
New Zealand and several other countries have amended constitutions to recognise animal sentience
Global trends point toward stronger individual animal welfare protection in legislation
Corporate animal welfare commitments increasingly function as de facto regulation

Welfare Considerations

Legislative progress on animal welfare has been steady but slow, and strategic advocacy for strong new laws represents a high-leverage intervention for large-scale welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Support organisations advocating for stronger animal welfare legislation
Engage with consultation processes for animal welfare legislation reform
Vote for political candidates with strong animal welfare policy commitments