Review of Animal Welfare Legislation

Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure - P.2024/51

The States are asked to decide:

Whether, after consideration of the Policy Letter entitled 'Review of Animal Welfare Legislation: 2024 Update' dated 20 th May 2024, they are of the opinion:

1. To agree to further regulate veterinary practice by:

(a) Requiring veterinary nurses in Guernsey to be registered;

(b) Requiring veterinary practice premises in Guernsey to be registered;

(c) Requiring visiting or peripatetic veterinarians not associated with an established veterinary practice to notify the Committee in advance of each visit; and

(d) Providing for Guernsey's Register of Veterinary Surgeons to indicate those veterinarians who have an Official Controls Qualification (Veterinary) authorising them to undertake specified roles on behalf of the States.

2. To agree to explicitly prohibit the following under an Ordinance made under the Animal Welfare (Enabling Provisions) (Guernsey) Law, 2008:

(a) The farming of animals for fur, feathers/down or hides/skin as a primary product rather than a slaughter by-product, excluding farming for wool of sheep, llamas or alpacas;

(b) The production of foie gras by force-feeding;

(c) The use of wild animals in circuses as set out in paragraph 4.26 of the Policy Letter;

(d) The use, permitting of use, sale or possession of any of the following for the capture, control, slaughter, killing or taking of animals:

(i) leg-hold/gin traps;

(ii) snares;

(iii) neck-crushing slaughtering instruments;

(iv) handheld pithing slaughtering instruments; and

(v) spring-powered or elastic-powered stunning instruments; 

(e) The use of artificial lighting or illuminating devices for the capture, control, slaughter, killing or taking of animals, except as provided for in paragraph 4.44 of the Policy Letter; and

(f) The use of glue traps except as provided for in paragraph 4.45 of the Policy Letter.

3. To agree to create appropriate offences and powers for the enforcement of the prohibitions, duties and requirements in Propositions 1 and 2 above;

4. To agree to authorise subordinate legislation to be made in the form of regulations to:

(a) prescribe exceptions, exemptions or defences in relation to any prohibition, duty or requirement in Propositions 1 and 2 above; and

(b) explicitly prohibit:

(i) the export or import of live animals of any specified kind or description, or for purposes or in circumstances prescribed;

(ii) the use, sale or possession of any specified device or method for the capture, control, slaughter, killing or taking of animals; and

(iii) any other specified activity involving or in connection with animals;

5. To authorise powers of entry and inspection and related powers under the Animal Welfare (Guernsey) Ordinance, 2012 to be exercised in relation to non-dwelling premises at any reasonable time without the need for 24 hours' prior notice in writing in non-emergency situations;

6. To direct the preparation of such legislation as may be necessary to give effect to the above decisions.

7. To note and endorse the Committee's general policy intent to keep animal health and welfare developments in the UK under regular review, implement the same in Guernsey where appropriate whilst taking account of local needs and circumstances, and return to the States if necessary with further legislative recommendations.