The Canary MP leads cross-party call for mandatory animal welfare labelling on meat products

The Grocer MPs call for mandatory animal welfare labelling in open letter

Podcast

Our Founder and Executive Director Edie Bowles recently joined Barrister, Professor and Co-Editor of UK Human Rights Blog Rosalind English at 1 Crown Office Row, alongside Campaigns Director from AdFree Cities Veronica Wiggins, to discuss pervasive forms of misinformation in our food system.

As the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 both mark their 20th anniversary, animals are still being failed by weak interpretation and poor enforcement, with some animals excluded from both Acts’ protections altogether. These weaknesses mean the Acts’ protections apply selectively and arbitrarily.

In February, The Animal Law Foundation wrote to the Welsh, Scottish and UK government alongside The League Against Cruel Sports and 60 other signatories calling for a reset on how the Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 is interpreted and enforced.

UPDATE

Our Founder and Executive Director Edie Bowles took part in Forty Two Talks’ podcast series to discuss the question: “Are all animals equal under the law?” with Barrister and podcast host Marcia Hyde and Emma Slawinski, CEO at the League Against Cruel Sports.

Edie, Marcia and Emma discussed Putting Animals Back into the Animal Welfare Act and the need to strengthen the system through meaningful reform to ensure animals are truly protected under the law.

Listen to the full episode here

At The Animal Law Foundation, we believe that boiling decapod crustaceans alive as a killing method is contrary to the law. Under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015, crabs and lobsters are protected from avoidable pain at the time of killing. Their ability to experience pain was recognised under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 and killing by boiling alive is wholly avoidable.

We outlined this in a legal letter to the government, calling on them to immediately enforce the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations 2015 for decapod crustaceans. In December 2025 the government confirmed this practice is incompatible under current UK law.

UPDATE

As we wait for the government to publish official guidance that makes it clear to the industry and consumers that live boiling is an unacceptable and illegal killing method, we continue to mount pressure on the government to enforce the law, as promised under the new Animal Welfare Strategy for England published in December 2025.

Good news! Our work is making headlines, including:

Daily Mail Scientists call for an immediate BAN on boiling lobsters alive – as study confirms crustaceans can feel pain

NEWS

Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, allowing renters to keep companion animals

The Renters’ Rights Act 2026 came into force on May 1, 2026, granting tenants in England a statutory right to request keeping companion animals, restricting landlords from enforcing blanket “no pets” bans. Landlords must consider requests reasonably, with refusals requiring justification, while tenants can challenge unreasonable refusals.

High Court judgment rules in favour of councils over animal welfare funding in Northern Ireland

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Belfast City Council have won the legal case against the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), which announced in 2023 it would withdraw £1.25m per year in funding provided to the north’s 11 councils for animal welfare services. The court ruled DAERA breached procedural legitimate expectations by failing to properly consult with the assembly scrutiny committee before ending the funding.

Donate to Help Animals Today

Make sure to stay informed on the progress of this important work by following us on our socials!

Thank you for being an essential part of the journey towards ensuring the protections afforded to animals by current legislation are understood and enforced. We are immensely grateful for your support.

If you would like to get in touch please email hello@animallawfoundation.org

Warm regards,

The Animal Law Foundation Team