New framework will protect public health and the environment from risks posed by PFAS
A new plan to better protect the nation and the environment from harmful ‘forever chemicals’ has been unveiled today (Tuesday 3 February 2026) by the UK Government.
In the first-ever PFAS Plan, a clear framework sets out the co-ordinated action that will be undertaken by governments, businesses and regulators to understand where these chemicals are coming from, how they spread and how to reduce public and environmental exposure.
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances – commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’ – represent one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. PFAS has played an important role in supporting economic growth by being an essential component in critical manufacturing industries, while also helping the nation to meet climate change targets due to their inclusion in low-carbon technologies.
However, there is growing evidence that their widespread use has generated risks to both people and the environment, which will likely remain for hundreds of years.
The UK has one of the highest quality drinking water supplies in the world, and there is currently no evidence of PFAS above permitted levels in England and Wales. Under the Plan, and to protect public health, a consultation will be launched later this year on introducing a statutory limit for PFAS in England’s public supply regulations. Should permitted levels ever be exceeded, this will make it easier for the regulators to enforce against water companies breaking the rules.
Environment Minister Emma Hardy said: “The persistent nature of ‘forever chemicals’ means they pose a long-term challenge for not only our health, but that of the nation’s vital ecosystems.
“It’s crucial that we protect both public health and the environment for future generations. Through our PFAS Plan, we will act decisively to reduce their harmful effects while transitioning to safer alternatives.
“We will work in partnership with regulators, industry and local communities to deliver co-ordinated action to ensure ‘forever chemicals’ are not a forever problem.”
The full extent of ‘forever chemicals’ in England’s estuaries and coastal waters will be assessed for the first time. Through improved testing and monitoring including of sediment and invertebrates, regulators will be provided with a clearer picture of the risks these habitats face and be equipped with a stronger evidence base in which to consider future regulatory action.
Safer alternatives to everyday items, like period pads and water-repellent clothing and footwear, could also be developed. Evidence shows their production methods can emit high levels of PFAS to the environment, with the government and businesses to explore how production methods could be modified to deliver new products which are PFAS free and affordable for families.
Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy said: “The Environment Agency is playing a vital part in tackling the challenge of PFAS.
Through our monitoring programmes, risk screening work, regulatory expertise and assessment of evidence, we are helping to inform the public and stakeholders about our work to protect the environment from the risks posed by PFAS.
“We will play a critical role in delivering the government’s PFAS Plan, building on the work we have undertaken in recent years.”
The plan sets out a range of further measures and interventions, which includes:
Developing new guidance for regulators and industries to address legacy PFAS pollution on contaminated land to ensure a consistent and practical approach.
Consulting on the introduction of a statutory limit for PFAS in England’s public supply regulations to improve the condition of the water the nation drinks.
Carrying out tests on food packaging, like microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes, to trace the presence of PFAS and support future regulatory action.
Publishing a new website to raise the public’s awareness and understanding of PFAS while also improving transparency of action being taken across government.
Reducing emissions from industrial sites through new guidance for regulators and site operators on how to improve their handling, monitoring and disposal of PFAS.
Improving the monitoring of PFAS in soils by supporting the British Geological Survey and initiating new sampling at five locations across England.
Completing work to consider restrictions on the use of PFAS in firefighting foams.
The UK government will work in partnership with regulators, industries and businesses to deliver the Plan, by taking a science-based and proportionate approach to reduce and minimise the risks posed by PFAS on public health and the environment.
Clearer pricing will help pet owners compare costs and shop around, saving families money
Millions of pet owners and vet professionals across the country will benefit from major reforms to the veterinary sector – the first overhaul in sixty years.
The reforms help households understand what they are paying for, avoid unexpected costs and choose the best value care for their pets.
They come after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found problems in the veterinary market could be costing households up to £1 billion over five years. The CMA found that vet fees have risen at nearly twice the rate of inflation – which is why this government is taking action.
The proposals will make the system clearer, fairer and more transparent for owners – while supporting veterinary professionals alike.
Benefits for pet owners:
Clearer prices easing the ability to look around: Vet practices will be required to publish price lists for common treatments, and be transparent about options and changes allowing pet owners to choose the best treatment for their animals. Knowing key prices beforehand helps owners to choose the best value.
More competition to lower costs over time: Vet businesses must disclose who owns them so pet owners know if their local practice is part of a larger chain or independent. This knowledge and price transparency helps owners to decide which practice to use which increases competition and bring down costs over time.
Greater confidence in care: Every vet practice will need an official operating licence – similar to GP surgeries and care homes.
Fairer treatment complaints process: Stronger rules on how veterinary businesses must operate with an easier and more effective route for customers to raise concerns along with more support offered to allow vets and vet nurses to carry out their roles successfully; benefitting animal health and welfare.
Better access to quality care: New measures will bring veterinary nurses and certain allied veterinary professionals into regulation, freeing up veterinary surgeons to focus on more specialist care, improving access and reducing delays.
Benefits for veterinary professionals:
Legal recognition for veterinary nurses to strengthen professional identity, helping improve job satisfaction and boosting retention rates.
Regulatory oversight of veterinary businesses, not just individual vets, so the responsibility for upholding standards is shared and clearer.
Modernised processes for registration and “fitness to practice”, focusing on current competence rather than past mistakes.
A modern governance model for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), whose current structure has remained largely unchanged since 1966 and now lags behind other healthcare regulators. Proposals will reduce potential conflicts of interest and strengthen public and professional trust.
Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman said: “Pets are part of the family, and owners deserve clear information, fair treatment and confidence in the care their animals receive.
“We’re focused on making vet services work better for families by improving transparency, increasing choice and helping people make informed decisions, while continuing to support the professionals who care for our animals.”
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said: “Updating these rules will help build a modern veterinary service that is easier for the public to understand and navigate, while strengthening animal health outcomes and supporting a skilled, resilient workforce.
“Reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act is a crucial step towards building a stronger, more resilient profession. This consultation gives pet owners and professionals the chance to help shape a system that works better for everyone.”
British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS said: “Veterinary teams play a vital role in society, from caring for the nation’s animals and supporting our farmers and food production, through to assisting international trade, disease control and public health.
If we’re to continue delivering this work effectively, we need reformed veterinary legislation, and those changes will impact how we go about all aspects of our work; it’s therefore imperative that colleagues engage with Defra’s proposals, ensure their voices are heard and grasp this opportunity to shape a veterinary sector that’s fit for the 21st century.”
Martin Coleman, Chair of the CMA Inquiry Group said: “We welcome the government’s consultation to update this vital regulation and protect pet owners.
“Our vets investigation is ongoing, but we have already set out our strong concern that the current rules are not fit for purpose and need reforming to keep pace with commercial practice and further build pet owner trust in veterinary businesses.”
Why change is needed:
60% of vet practices are owned by non-vets, with many operating under unclear ownership structures. The reforms propose a new licencing system requiring businesses to meet clear standards – with enforcement action, including potential loss of licence, where they fail to do so.
A modern disciplinary process will accompany the reforms, with a wider range of sanctions to ensure customer concerns are properly addressed and support veterinary professionals to safely carry out their roles. This will work to improve care whilst reducing punitive outcomes and will benefit both owners and professionals alike.
Veterinary professionals are essential to the UK’s high animal health and welfare standards. These reforms strengthen professional recognition, modernise outdated regulation and help safeguard the profession’s ability to continue to protect the UK from the threats to disease and food security.
This announcement follows the publication of the Animal Welfare Strategy, and is part of this Government’s ambitious reforms to animal welfare – improving the lives of millions of animals across the UK.
The consultation will run for 8 weeks.
Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “For years, Which? has been exposing unclear pricing and poor practice in the vet industry so it’s good to see the government taking steps to modernise the sector and ensure it treats pet owners fairly.
“The current regulation is decades out of date and oversight of veterinary businesses, not just individual vets, is urgently needed. The government needs to ensure that its new licensing system has the right sanctions in place for businesses which break the rules.
“The government must ensure these changes are introduced as soon as possible to restore consumer confidence in the sector. As part of these reforms, it should also legislate to establish a mandatory Ombudsman scheme with the power to make binding judgements about customer complaints and take action against any vets or vet practices falling short.”
BVA calls on vets to support reform of outdated veterinary legislation as Government launches proposals
Following years of campaigning by the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the UK Government has today (27 January 2026) taken a major step towards reforming the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (VSA), launching a public consultation seeking views on its proposals for reformed legislation.
The consultation will run for eight weeks and seeks input from across the veterinary team and from the public on a range of proposals that could see significant changes to how veterinary professionals are regulated, including the introduction of regulation for allied veterinary professionals (e.g. equine dental technicians and cattle hoof trimmers); vet businesses could be regulated for the first time; and there could be significant changes to the governance arrangements including the roles undertaken by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published its proposals following months of intensive engagement with a group of key organisations including BVA, RCVS, the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) and the Vet Schools Council (VSC), to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the sector and develop recommendations on what the options for proposed reform could look like.
Reform of the VSA will have a significant impact on vets’ daily work, the service they provide their clients and the care given to animals. BVA will formally respond to the consultation on behalf of its members. BVA is also strongly encouraging all vets to support reform by engaging with the proposals and sharing their views with Defra via the consultation.
British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams MCVRS said: “Vets play a vital role in society, from caring for the nation’s animals and supporting our farmers and food production, through to assisting international trade, disease control and public health.
“If we’re to continue delivering this work effectively, we urgently need reformed veterinary legislation, and those changes will impact how we go about all aspects of our work. It’s therefore imperative that colleagues engage with Defra’s proposals, ensure their voices are heard and grasp this opportunity to shape veterinary legislation that’s fit for the 21st century.”
For more information on what Defra’s proposals mean, BVA members can access a series of recorded webinars explaining the detail.
There is also a Frequently Asked Questions section on the BVA website:
Inn collaboration with Animal Rising, Dame Joanna Lumley has launched an animation showing conditions inside MBR Acres and the rescue of 18 beagle puppies in 2022.
MBR Acres breeds beagles for use in animal testing, primarily toxicology.
Earlier this week, five individuals were convicted of burglary in relation to the 2022 rescue. 13 more are due to face charges in the same case across three separate trials in early 2026. Another three are due to stand trial for a seperate rescue from MBR Acres in June 2022.
A petition launched by Animal Rising, calling for the closure of MBR Acres and the safe rehoming of the beagle puppies inside, has gained over 41,000 signatures.
The animation has been released on the third anniversary of the rescue of 18 beagle puppies in 2022.
In a pre-Christmas plea for goodwill, Dame Joanna Lumley and Animal Rising have joined forces to call on the Home Office and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood MP to urgently close down the beagle breeding facility known as MBR Acres and rehome all the dogs still there.
Rose Patterson, 36, Animal Rising Co-Director, from Harrogate and living in Hackney, said: “It is an honour to have a national treasure like Dame Joanna Lumley backing us, and thousands of others, in calling for the closure of MBR Acres and safe rehoming of the beautiful beagle puppies inside.
“It is utterly tragic that we use an animal that we also call ‘man’s best friend’ in horrific, painful, and needless experiments.
“It’s not the Victorian Era anymore; we don’t need to rely on using dogs in experimentation for reliable results. We have so many more options available to us that provide greater reliability, using better science.
“Shabana Mahmood needs to step up and make good on Labour’s manifesto promise to end animal testing as swiftly as possible.”
The animation details some of the procedures beagles undergo at MBR Acres, including “terminal blood sampling” that the facility is licensed to carry out.
This license allows MBR Acres to drain healthy dogs of blood and harvest their organs for other use. It moves on to depict the rescues, on two separate occasions, of dogs from the facility (with five puppies rescued in June 2022 and 18 more in December 2022).
Journal articles over recent years, including multiple in the British Medical Journal, have raised serious questions about the claims made by proponents of animal testing. Critics of animal testing point to drugs that passed testing in animals and later led to, sometimes, thousands of human death.
Nathan McGovern, 26, a defendant convicted in this week’s trial, said: “Not only is using innocent beagle puppies for animal testing cruel and painful, but it’s also just bad science.
“Non-animal methods are surging ahead in both reliability and cost. It’s plain that the future is here now, and we need to move with the times with the immediate shutdown of MBR Acres.
MBR has an absolutely atrocious track record when it comes to animal welfare, with both Italian and US facilities shutting down in recent years. In Italy, three senior employees even got prison sentences.”
Animal Rising is calling on concerned members of the public to sign their petition to shut down MBR Acres and rehome all the puppies there.
Sign the petition to save the beagles and shut down MBR Acres:
Defra announces biggest animal welfare reforms in a generation
UK Government launches new plans to protect and improve the lives of our pets, farmed and wild animals
The UK government will launch its Animal Welfare Strategy today – Monday 22 December, setting out new plans to protect treasured pets and much-loved wildlife across the country.
These generational reforms will end the cruel practice of puppy farming, where breeding dogs are kept in appalling conditions, often overbred, and denied proper care. These inhumane practices often result in puppies suffering from long-term health issues.
The Strategy further enhances protections for dogs and wildlife, building on new laws that put an end to puppy smuggling.
Farm animals in England and Wales will be better protected from dog attacks thanks to new livestock worrying laws. Tougher penalties and greater police powers will help relieve the emotional and financial strain these attacks place on farming communities.
Legislation, regulations and current practices need to be reformed as they have not kept pace with the latest evidence, and there have been instances of individuals taking advantage of loopholes.
The Animal Welfare Strategy, launched today by the Environment Secretary, will help fix this and deliver the most ambitious welfare reforms in a generation – in line with our manifesto promise.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “We’re a nation of animal lovers. This government is delivering the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.
“Visiting Battersea Dogs and Cats Home reminded me that millions of families welcome pets into their homes every year. Our strategy will raise welfare standards for animals in the home, on the farm and in the wild.
“We’ve already acted to improve zoo standards, end puppy smuggling and protect livestock from dog attacks. Now, we’re planning to ban caged hens, cruel snares, trail hunting, and curb low welfare dog breeding.”
The Animal Welfare Strategy sets out how the government will deliver:
Improved welfare for companion animals by:
Reforming dog breeding practices to improve health and welfare, preventing animals from becoming unwell and ending puppy farming
Consulting on a ban on the use of electric shock collars due to the possible harm to our pets
Considering the introduction of new licences for domestic rescue and rehoming organisations to ensure rescues have the right checks in place
Promoting responsible dog ownership to protect public safety
Improved welfare for farmed animals by:
Moving away from confinement systems such as colony cages for laying hens and the use of pig farrowing crates
Addressing the welfare issues that arise from the use of carbon dioxide to stun pigs because of animal welfare concerns
Introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish to spare them avoidable pain
Promoting the use of slow growing meat chicken breeds
Protection for wild animals by:
Banning trail hunting amidst concerns it is being used as a smokescreen for hunting
Banning snare traps because they cause suffering to animals and can catch pets
Introducing a close season for hares which should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, meaning that fewer young hares are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation
The Animal Welfare Strategy builds on this government’s proven track record in delivering reforms for animals. This includes introducing new, world-leading standards for zoos earlier this year and supporting passage of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act 2025 and the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act.
The government will work with interested parties to deliver the strategy by the end of 2030.
Thomas Schultz-Jagow, Director of Advocacy and Prevention at RSPCA, said: “The government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy is a significant step forward which has the potential to improve the lives of millions of animals.
“People in the UK love animals and they want to see governments leading the way to outlaw cruel practices which cause suffering such as a phase out of cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs.
“As we need a radical rethink about the way we see and treat animals in this country, this strategy leads the way by showing a strong commitment to animal welfare. We look forward to continuing to work with the government to give all animals the protection they deserve.”
Sonul Badiani-Hamment, FOUR PAWS UK Country Director, said: “FOUR PAWS UK welcomes the publication of the Animal Welfare Strategy today and the commitments outlined which have the potential to transform the lives of millions of animals.
“Improving animal welfare is not only a moral and ethical imperative, but also essential to building a healthy and prosperous nation. By taking action to end the use of confinement systems in farming, banning trail hunting and tackling the scourge of puppy farming, the government can significantly reduce animal suffering in the UK.
“The priority now must be swift action to deliver on these commitments for animals, and FOUR PAWS UK stands ready to support the Government in doing so.”
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, said: “We welcome the Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy, particularly its commitment to delivering the measures set out in the recently passed Animal Welfare Bill, which will prevent the import of underage puppies, heavily pregnant dogs and dogs with mutilations.
“We are also pleased that the Government plans to consult on the regulation of rehoming centres. We have seen too many cases of neglect and fatalities involving dogs at the hands of unregulated individuals, and the public strongly supports mandatory licensing and regular inspections.
“We look forward to working with the Government to ensure the Strategy is implemented swiftly and effectively, so that all dogs are properly protected.”
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at Humane World for Animals, said: “There are hundreds of millions of animals in the UK whose health and wellbeing depends on humans and we welcome this Strategy’s commitment to tackle some of the most indefensible and avoidable forms of suffering.
“The Government’s commitment towards phasing out farrowing crates for mother pigs is in tune with both welfare science and public opinion. Supporting farmers to give animals more of the freedom they need and deserve is a hugely commendable and popular goal.”
Anthony Field, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said: “Compassion in World Farming welcomes the UK Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy as a landmark step forward in protecting farmed animals across Britain.
“By committing to phase out cages for laying hens and farrowing crates for pigs, over 7 million hens and 150,000 pigs will benefit annually.
“We are also delighted that the Government’s commitment to improve the welfare of tens of millions of pigs and fish at slaughter. The Government is raising the bar for farmed animal welfare.
“Compassion very much welcomes the Government’s leadership on this and looks forward to working with them to turn these commitments into the much-needed policy changes as soon as possible.”
Michael Webb, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Battersea, said: “Battersea welcomes the Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy. The reforms laid out in the Strategy will address some of the key issues that we as a charity have been campaigning for over many years, including regulating the rescue sector, tackling bad breeding practices and putting an end to puppy smuggling.
“There is clearly still a lot of detail to work out, and the Strategy does not claim to tackle every problem animals face. However, Battersea is hopeful that it will be the catalyst for real, lasting change and ultimately make a brighter future for future for animals across the country.
“We look forward to working alongside the Government to ensure these promises are implemented effectively and ultimately safeguard the welfare of dogs and cats.”
Charlotte Di Cello, Chief Commercial Officer at Waitrose, comments: ““The Animal Welfare Strategy is an important step towards better lives for farmed animals. Shoppers want higher welfare standards and it is really good to know that some of the more inhumane methods of farming, such as fast-growing chickens, will be consigned to history in the UK.
“Waitrose has led the industry on higher welfare in partnership with British farmers: we stopped selling eggs from caged hens nearly 25 years ago; this year delivered the Better Chicken Commitment for all own-label chicken and all own-label pork will be free range by 2027.
“Our new welfare rating label has been welcomed and we are hopeful the strategy will be a springboard to a mandatory scheme in the future to boost transparency and more conscious choice for shoppers.”
Emma Slawinski, chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “The bans already in place in Wales and Scotland marked a pivotal step in acknowledging the unnecessary suffering caused by these indiscriminate and cruel devices, so the government’s announcement that it will implement a ban on the use of snares in England is very welcome indeed.
“Snares pose a constant danger in the countryside, and not just for the animals these traps are laid to catch. The League has compiled case studies over many years where animals such as badgers, hares, and even pet dogs and cats have been caught and killed by snares, often discovered by members of the public left horrified by what they have seen.
“These traps are blunt instruments of cruelty, often used for no other reason than to protect millions of game birds which are later shot just for fun, and have no place in a country committed to taking a progressive approach to animal welfare.
“We commend the government for taking robust steps to ensure we will become such a country by outlawing snares.”
In partnership with environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, who has awarded a grant of £25K to the Council, a Chewing Gum Task Force is cleaning up gum and reducing gum littering on the Capital.
Cllr Stephen Jenkinson Environment Convener said: This grant is very welcome as gum takes about five years to break down and is costly to remove.
“Our task force is starting in busy areas and in the next couple of weeks we are concentrating on removing discarded gum on Leith Street. It’s important that we get the message out that it is not OK to drop gum in our beautiful city and we’re putting up effective signage to try to prevent littering in the future.
“I’d like to ask all of our residents and visitors to support this campaign and please bin your gum.”
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is very welcome.
“However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.”
The council is one of 54 across the country that has successfully applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its third year, for funds to clean gum off pavements and prevent it from being littered again.
Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to clean up gum in their local areas and invest in long-term behaviour change to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place.
Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7 million. In its second year the task force awarded 55 councils a total of £1.56 million, helping clean an estimated 440,000 m2 of pavement – an area equivalent to the Vatican City.
By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 60% in the first two months.
Devolved governments and businesses facing further uncertainty
Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to express her frustration at a further significant delay to the Deposit Return Scheme launch, despite repeated requests for DEFRA to set out its plans.
The full text of the Circular Economy Minister’s letter:
To: Stephen Barclay Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs From: Lorna Slater Circular Economy Minister
Dear Stephen
I am writing to you to express my deep concerns at your comments about the future of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on Tuesday 26 March.
Despite our continued requests for Defra to set out its plans for DRS, and my recent correspondence dated 8 March on such matters, it is extremely frustrating to hear about details of a further significant delay to the DRS launch from media reports.
Your Government committed to develop and consult on a DRS in England for metal, plastic and glass drinks containers in 2018, a commitment also set out in your 2019 manifesto. We are now five years on from that commitment, which has been significantly weakened following your Government’s decision to remove glass from the scheme in 2023. It is clear now that it will be further delayed.
As you know, Scotland would now have an operational DRS if the UK Government had not prevented it from moving forward as planned. This would have provided a launchpad for wider DRS across the UK meaning we would all be experiencing the environmental and economic benefits much sooner.
Instead, the UK Government’s refusal to provide that IMA exclusion created enormous uncertainty for businesses on what a scheme across the UK would look like and on how it would be delivered, and severely undermined confidence. Even though the main premise for undermining Scotland’s scheme was the need for a UK-wide approach, almost one year on, there is no further clarity on the details of your Regulations. We, the other devolved governments, and businesses now find ourselves facing even greater uncertainty as a result of these latest comments.
It is also now clear from your comments that the UK Government won’t hesitate to continue to use the IMA to undermine, override and re-write devolved legislation, disregarding four-nation agreements and good-faith engagement in Common Frameworks to so do.
Despite the continued shifting of goal posts and delays by the UK Government, which we have set out in an annex to this letter, officials across the four nations have been working closely since May last year to design and agree interoperable schemes.
Minister Moore’s letter to devolved Ministers on 1 March particularly emphasised the valuable input from Scottish officials, and that the preparations we had already put in place to deliver DRS in Scotland has helped inform the four nations approach, including the amendments to our regulations in May and September last year, based on significant feedback from business.
We have said from day one that we we’re committed to all schemes across the UK to work together. We designed our scheme in good faith so it would be interoperable with the proposals agreed and consulted upon by all UK nations. I would ask that you focus on working with all devolved nations to finalise an interoperable DRS, which still recognises the devolved nature of this policy, to provide businesses with the certainty they need to make the scheme a success. This includes setting out a realistic timescale for delivery which is agreed across the four nations, rather than creating speculation without consultation.
I am copying this letter to Robbie Moore MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Huw Irranca-Davies AS/MS Minister for Climate Change and Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. I have also copied to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Secretary of State for Wales, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Permanent Secretary for Defra and the Defra Director for Resources & Waste for their information.
Animal protection charity The Humane League UK has filed a Judicial Review against Defra’s allowance of the widespread use of fast growing breeds of chicken, contrary to legislation that bans the keeping of animals if their breeding causes ‘detriment to their health and welfare’.
The Humane League UK argues that the standard industry use of breeds of chicken who grow unnaturally large, unnaturally fast is unlawful, and challenges Defra’s current position allowing the use of these extreme breeds.
Pru Elliott, Senior Campaigner at The Humane League UK, said: ”There’s an assumption that because intensively breeding chickens to grow unnaturally fast is standard practice, it is therefore legal. But looking at the legislation it’s crystal clear that the law is being flouted in standard chicken production.”
The case asks the court to determine that Defra’s policy to permit the current standard of farming fast-growing ‘FrankenChickens’ in the country is in breach of the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. The rule states:
Animals may only be kept for farming purposes if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of their genotype or phenotype, that they can be kept without any detrimental effect on their health or welfare.
Elliott continued: “We believe Defra has an unlawful policy in permitting the use of these breeds and should instead be stipulating that they cannot be used. We also believe they have an unlawful monitoring system in place that fails to detect the scale of welfare issues associated with fast growing chickens.”
Broiler chickens have been genetically selected over decades to prioritise for fast growth, to produce as much meat in the shortest possible time. As a result, they can suffer from a wide range of health and welfare issues. Last year an investigation by The Humane League UK revealed that the muscle disease white striping, caused by fast growth, was present in over 8 in 10 standard packets of chicken on supermarket shelves.
The challenge comes after the RSPCA published a scientific report in 2020 comparing the welfare of three different breeds of fast growing chicken. It showed that the fast growing breeds have poorer health and welfare than a slower growing breed. Three further scientific studies by the University of Bristol, the University of Guelph, and the Royal Veterinary College all support these findings.
Despite the clear scientific consensus and the findings from numerous undercover investigations on broiler farms using these breeds, Defra’s position is that fast growing breeds can be kept without detriment to their health or welfare, as stated in its responses to The Humane League UK’s pre-action correspondence.
Edie Bowles, Solicitor at Advocates for Animals and representing The Humane League UK in this case, said: “The law is clear that farmed animals can only be kept if the breed used will not experience detriment to their health or welfare. The science clearly shows that fast growing broilers cannot be kept without such detriment. It is therefore evident that keeping fast growing broilers is unlawful.”
The case also challenges the ‘trigger system,’ Defra’s monitoring system aimed at detecting welfare issues associated with commercial broilers. The trigger system requires vets at abattoirs to report welfare issues, but only if they occur above a given threshold as set out in Defra’s Code of Practice. The Humane League UK believes the threshold set by Defra is too high.
The high threshold results in countless welfare issues not being reported and dealt with. This is contrary to the 2007 farm animal welfare regulations which state: ‘If the mortality rate of the chickens or the results of the post-mortem inspection are consistent with poor animal welfare conditions, the official veterinarian must communicate the data to the keeper of those chickens and to the Secretary of State without delay.’
Charities have been campaigning for food companies to commit to ending the use of fast-growing FrankenChickens by asking them to sign up to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), which demands slower growing breeds, more space, natural light and enrichment, less painful slaughter methods and third-party auditing.
KFC, Nando’s, Greggs, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose are among the 250+ companies in the UK and EU to have committed to the BCC, but supermarkets including Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Lidl are refusing.
Taking your pet out of the country? Changes to the pet travel scheme are being introduced today by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The pet travel scheme allows people to take their dog, cat or ferret in and out of the UK without quarantine, as long as they meet the rules of the scheme.
The changes are in line with new European regulations and are designed to improve the security of the scheme and traceability of the pet passport, whilst also clamping down on abuse of the system.
The changes include:
a new minimum age of 12 weeks before a pet can be vaccinated against rabies
new pet passports will include laminated strips and a requirement for more contact details to be provided by the vet issuing the document and certifying the veterinary treatments
a new requirement for all member states in the EU to carry out checks on their borders (the UK already checks all pets coming into the country through approved routes)
a tighter definition of non-commercial movement which will mean owners who cannot travel with a pet when they enter the EU, must do so within 5 days; owners can still authorise another person to travel with their pet, but again the pet and authorised person must travel within 5 days of each other
All pets are still required to have a microchip which confirms the animal’s identity.
Existing passports will remain valid for the lifetime of the pet or until all treatment spaces have been filled on the document.
All pet passports issued by vets from 29 December 2014 will be in the new format.
Mark Lazarowicz MP Backs Report Exposing Cruel Wildlife Cybercrime
Mark Lazarowicz MP is backing a hard-hitting report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) that sets out – in often shocking detail -the scale of wildlife trade over the internet.
The report entitled ‘Wanted – Dead or Alive’ shows how thousands of endangered species are bought and sold on the Internet, many advertised without any form of supporting documentation.
IFAW found the legality of almost 13 per cent of the advertisements investigated warranted turning them over to law enforcers for further examination. However this may only be the tip of the iceberg as investigators focused on open-source websites.
The Edinburgh North and Leith MP is a member of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) which has published a series of reports on wildlife crime.
Mark Lazarowicz said: “I welcome this report for shining a light on the murky sale of protected species and parts of them like ivory – it’s big business built on cruelty to magnificent but rare animals like tigers, bears and orangutans.
“When the EAC reported in 2012 we called for the Government to give the National Wildlife Crime Unit the funding it needs to be effective and we highlighted how the lack of certainty over its funding is making it especially difficult to attract staff and hampering its work on wildlife crime.
“I want to see the UK and Scottish Governments – which has responsibility for tackling this in Scotland – working closely together to shut down these practices – it’s a crime that crosses borders and wildlife that we treasure should not be traded online like any other commodity.”
The report calls for:
• A criminal offence created for those advertising a protected animal, or its parts
• Warnings on marketplaces online to make people searching for protected species aware that they might be breaking the law so they cannot plead ignorance
• Secure funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit and a dedicated post for wildlife cybercrime.
Mr Lazarowicz has written to DEFRA calling for the Government to act.
