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New chair to lead Animal Sentience Committee confirmed

Michael Seals has been appointed as the first-ever chair of the new Animal Sentience Committee.

The Animal Sentience Committee will consider how individual central Government policy decisions take account of animal welfare and will be made up of experts in animal welfare. As chair, Michael Seals will provide leadership for the new committee, enabling it to carry out its statutory function and to support Parliamentary accountability on how well Government decision-making effectively considers the welfare of animals.

The committee’s responsibilities stem from the Animal Sentience Act, which formally recognises animals as sentient beings in domestic law and implements a key government manifesto commitment to legislate for sentience.

Michael Seals is the former chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Board of England and the current Chairman of  Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority, helping to support the long-term future of the animal medicine sector.

The Animal Sentience Act was a core commitment in the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare, which sets out government plans on improving standards and eradicating cruel practices.

Committee member recruitment is ongoing and will be announced in the coming months.

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