By Rob Espin, Solicitor and Co-Chair of A-LAW Wildlife Special Interest Group

Friday 17 March saw both the Hunting Trophies (Importation Prohibition) and the Animals (Low-Welfare Animal Activities Abroad) Bills successfully pass through third reading in the House of Commons. The Hunting Trophies Bill will make it illegal to import hunting trophies taken from endangered species into the UK, whilst the Animal Activities Abroad Bill will allow the Secretary of State to prohibit the advertisement to certain UK consumers of specified foreign tourism activities considered to pose a threat to animal welfare.

Third Reading can be a difficult step for such private members bills to pass therefore their continuation represents a huge step forward and both the bills will now go on to be considered by the House of Lords.

Different members of the UK Centre for Animal Law, including Rob Espin and Judith-Anne MacKenzie provided help and advice to Animal NGOs, MPs and other stakeholders and remain involved in supporting the passage of the bills and the development of the UK’s wildlife welfare laws. 

Find the transcript of the Third Reading for the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2023-03-17/debates/48B2D379-A663-4A98-BEC8-DB728996B6F5/Animals(LowWelfareActivitiesAbroad)Bill

About the author:

Rob is the chair of A-LAW’s Wildlife Special Interest Group. Rob trained at a magic circle firm and practised restructuring and insolvency law upon qualification, later moving in-house into a commercial team. He became involved with A-law whilst a student at university studying international wildlife law. Outside of A-law and work, Rob acts pro bono as a consultant for the Lifescape Project and advises on matters of rewilding and wildlife welfare.