He United Kingdom will ban the cooking of live lobsters as part of a new strategy to strengthen legislation Animal protectionan initiative that represents a significant advance in the country’s politics. The measure, promoted by the current Labor government, extends legal protection to Crustaceans and cephalopodsand recognized their ability to feel pain as revealed Financial Times And The Telegraph.
This change has sparked an intense debate between animal rights activists and representatives of the fishing industry, who foresee possible economic and commercial impacts.
The government’s strategy proposes a ban on cooking live lobsters as a method of slaughter and defines new guidelines on practices considered inhumane, including cooking live crustaceans.
The official document, quoted by Financial Timesdescribes the initiative as “the most ambitious in a generation” and includes additional measures such as: Prohibition of hunting with dogs, use of traps and hare shooting during breeding season. This is also being considered phasing out cages for chickens and pigs and increasing control over the breeding and transportation of domestic animals.
A spokesman for Downing Street explained Financial Times that the strategy aims to align regulation with UK supermarket practices to improve food quality.
The legal framework is supported by Animal Welfare Act of 2022which recognized decapod crustaceans – such as crabs, lobsters and shrimps – and cephalopods – such as squids and octopuses – as sentient beings.
Although this law did not prohibit live cooking at the time, the new regulations correct this omission. Both publications emphasize that the inclusion of these animals is a response to scientific findings about their ability to suffer.
Animal welfare organizations celebrated the novelty. Compassion for crustaceansthe group that pushed the measure welcomed the decision. Ben Sturgeon, the chief executive, said The Telegraph: “We welcome the government’s intention to ban the cooking of sentient crustaceans and address other areas where their welfare is at risk.”.
Sturgeon added that there are more humane alternatives, such as electrical stunning before slaughter, which can be used throughout the supply chain.
According to the activist, this progress is fundamental because “When live, conscious decapods are placed in boiling water, they suffer extreme pain for several minutes before dying.”.
A survey by YouGov quoted by The Telegraph claims that 65% of British adults oppose cooking live seafoodshowing significant societal support for the regulation.
The critical voice comes primarily from the fish industry and the catering industry, which alludes to the operational and economic effects of the measure. James Chiavarinia restaurant owner in London, questioned the feasibility of alternative methods: “Electric shock is an absurd idea. What are we supposed to do, plug lobsters into an electrical outlet? Honestly, no restaurant is going to electrocute lobsters before they’ve cooked them.”he explained in dialogue with The Telegraph.
David JarradManaging Director of the Shellfish Association of Great Britainwarned that the cost of stunning equipment, which is around £3,500, could prompt many restaurants and hotels to opt for importing frozen seafood. According to Jarrad, “if someone wants to buy a live crab or lobster, they are not paying for a product that is already dead,” and he stressed that the supply chain already tends to minimize animal stress to maintain quality.
The animal welfare strategy caused concern among farmers and unions, who warned that increasing requirements could put British producers at a disadvantage compared to imports from countries with less stringent standards.
Tom BradshawPresident of the National Farmers Associationexpressed to Financial Times The “As the government continues to raise national animal welfare standards, it must protect consumers from imported food that may be produced to lower standards and prevent British farmers from competing on an unlevel playing field.”.
The official position is that no trade agreements will be signed that allow the import of products that do not meet British standards and that import restrictions could be imposed to avoid unfair competition.
Beyond the ban on cooking live lobsters, the official strategy includes the phasing out of decorated cages for chickens and farrowing cages for sows, as well as a ban on hunting with dogs and the use of traps. The government also plans to tighten regulation of the breeding and transport of pets, promising tougher enforcement where standards are low.
Emma Reynoldsexplained Environment Minister Financial Times that the strategy includes “tougher regulation where standards are weaker, effective enforcement and working with the sector to provide additional support to animal farmers and owners”.
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