A discussion involving welfare and legal experts found that the current legislation should be comprehensively reviewed
THE Animal Welfare Act does not offer protection for animals that suffer owing to fireworks, experts agreed – as further calls are made for a “comprehensive review” of regulations.
Redwings hosted a roundtable discussion with attendees including World Horse Welfare, the RSPCA, vets, police and a barrister, to discuss the act in relation to when it is believed fireworks have inadvertently led to animals’ injury or death.
This came “in response to statements made consistently by ministers at Westminster, which suggest that the act is a legislative tool that could be used in such scenarios”.
The Animal Welfare Act states it is an offence to cause “any unnecessary suffering to a captive or domestic animal” but fireworks are not mentioned.
British Horse Society figures show there were 1,468 firework incidents involvinƒg horses between 1 November 2010 and 19 March 2024, and Redwings said the charity is not aware of any cases where the Animal Welfare Act has been used to address the “sometimes tragic impacts on animals”.
Some difficulties in applying the act were highlighted. For example, identifying who is responsible; the person who lit the firework, the landowner or the display organiser. It was agreed that there are challenges establishing proof the firework had “unequivocally been the cause” of any suffering, and the fact setting off fireworks in line with regulations is legal.
It was agreed that revision of regulations is needed, with suggestions including firework licensing, codes of practice and control zones such as those in Scotland (news, 2 November).
“The Animal Welfare Act is very good legislation, but it wasn’t written to punish people for doing something the law endorses, such as holding a fireworks display in their back garden. The focus needs to be on better regulation,” said Nic de Brauwere, Redwings’ head of welfare and behaviour.
World Horse Welfare
