Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill

There have been number of long-running campaigns to raise awareness about the negative welfare implications of some activities involving close encounters with wild animals outside the UK, and which are available to those who live in the UK when travelling abroad.

Activities that animal welfare campaigners have raised concerns about include elephant rides, dolphinariums and close encounters with big cats.

The Bill aims to prohibit the sale, the offering for sale and the advertisement in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of low-welfare animal activities which take place abroad. As animal welfare is devolved, animal activities which would fall within the ban would be defined in regulations by the relevant national authority

Explanatory Notes from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been published alongside the Bill. 

Second Reading of the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill took place on 3 February 2023. 

The Committee Stage of the Bill took place on 8 March 2023, during this no amendments were introduced. The Bill was agreed without amendment and without division.

Remaining stages of the Bill are scheduled to take place in the Commons on 17 March 2023