Animal Health and Welfare (Welfare of Pigs) Bill 2025

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

Aimed at improving pig welfare, the measure would ban routine teeth-clipping, tail-docking and castration, except where needed for diagnosis or treatment, and would restrict tusk reduction to a last resort for safety or to prevent injury. It would also ban sow stalls and farrowing crates that are too small or that do not let a sow turn around, setting a minimum size of 5 square metres. The proposal matters because it would set stronger legal limits on common farm practices that can cause pain, injury and long-term confinement.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to improve the welfare of pigs by prohibiting teeth-clipping, tail-docking and castration, limiting the use of tusk reduction and regulating sow stalls and farrowing crates.

Last updated 2 July 2025