The UK Government has introduced Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill to formally recognise animals as sentient beings in domestic law. The Bill has been introduced as part of Action Plan for Animal Welfare. The Bill seeks to establish an Animal Sentience Committee made up of experts to ensure cross departmental government policy considers animal sentience. It also ensures that the government ministers shall update parliament on recommendations made by the Animal Sentience Committee. The law will also require the government to consider animal sentience in policymaking decisions as well.
*Tanvi Singh, Editorial Assistant has put this story together.