The UK government is poised to announce a major overhaul of animal welfare laws, with a sweeping ban on puppy farms, snare traps and trail hunting at its core. The new strategy, set to be unveiled on Monday, will also launch consultations on electric shock collars and introduce humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish.
Key Bans and Phase-Outs in the New Strategy
Under the planned reforms, several controversial practices will be outlawed entirely. The breeding of puppies in poor, commercial-scale conditions – known as puppy farming – will be banned. This practice, often run by unscrupulous breeders, is linked to overbreeding and sick animals. Defra estimates hundreds of thousands of farmed dogs enter the UK annually, with the Kennel Club stating a third of these puppies become ill or die within their first year.
In the countryside, the use of snare traps and the activity of trail hunting will also be prohibited. A new close season will be introduced to reduce the number of adult hares being shot. Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, criticised the move, telling the BBC it was "unbelievable" that Labour was planning a further crackdown. He said people in rural areas would be "shocked" that banning trail hunting and fox control snares was a political priority.
Farm Animal Welfare Reforms Set for 2030
The government's long-term plan includes implementing new laws by 2030 to phase out key confinement methods in farming. This includes the phasing out of colony cages for laying hens, also known as enriched cages, which can house between 40 to 80 birds. While introduced after the 2012 ban on traditional battery cages, campaigners argue they still provide poor conditions.
Similarly, farrowing crates for sows will be phased out. These cages are used to house pigs during birth, with proponents saying they protect piglets, but critics labelling them cruel for restricting the sow's movement. The government will also pledge to review the use of carbon dioxide gas to stun pigs before slaughter, a practice used on around 90% of British pigs but which raises concerns over animal suffering.
Consultations and Existing Protections
Alongside the outright bans, the strategy will launch a public consultation on banning electric shock collars for pets. It will also seek to reform dog breeding practices more broadly to ensure pets are raised in healthy environments. This builds on previous legislation, notably 'Lucy's Law', which was introduced under the Johnson government and banned third-party puppy selling. The law was named after a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescued from a farm where she was kept in terrible conditions.
The comprehensive package of measures represents one of the most significant updates to animal welfare law in recent years, setting a clear trajectory for changes across both the pet industry and agricultural sector within the next decade.
