The Animal Welfare Strategy sets out Government priorities until 2030. Policies will be delivered throughout this time, including policy on decapod crustaceans.

The Government has not decided whether to extend the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to decapod crustaceans. The Home Office is continuing a phased, evidence-based programme of work to improve protections for decapods used in science and inform and inform any future decision on regulation.

This includes developing baseline welfare standards, voluntary reporting arrangements and identifying evidence, guidance and technical gaps. The Home Office is establishing an expert working group to support this work and is developing a roadmap setting out the key stages towards considering the potential future inclusion of decapods as protected animals under the Act.

Any decision to bring forward legislation will be informed by the evidence and advice produced. It would therefore be premature to set a date for the conclusion of that consideration. The Government will provide further updates as the work progresses through appropriate forums.

The Government has not decided whether to extend the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to decapod crustaceans. The Home Office is continuing a phased, evidence-based programme of work to improve protections for decapods used in science and inform and inform any future decision on regulation.

This includes developing baseline welfare standards, voluntary reporting arrangements and identifying evidence, guidance and technical gaps. The Home Office is establishing an expert working group to support this work and is developing a roadmap setting out the key stages towards considering the potential future inclusion of decapods as protected animals under the Act.

Any decision to bring forward legislation will be informed by the evidence and advice produced. It would therefore be premature to set a date for the conclusion of that consideration. The Government will provide further updates as the work progresses through appropriate forums.

The Home Office has written to the Animals in Science Committee setting out its phased approach to developing proportionate and evidence-based arrangements for decapods used in scientific procedures. As part of this approach, the Home Office is developing a roadmap setting out objectives and key milestones to enable the development of the evidence base needed to inform future policy decisions. The Home Office will publish further information on its approach to regulating decapods used in science in due course.

The initial phase of this work focuses on the adoption of industry-led welfare standards, supported by voluntary reporting, targeted training and preparatory work. Further steps may include seeking technical advice and engaging relevant experts where appropriate.

This activity is being undertaken using existing resources and budget. As of July 2026, the Animals in Science Regulation Policy Unit has 8.6 full-time equivalent staff who support a range of priorities including policy development for decapods. The Unit collaborates with a range of other government teams to progress project activity. Resourcing arrangements will be kept under review as the policy develops.

The Home Office has written to the Animals in Science Committee setting out its phased approach to developing proportionate and evidence-based arrangements for decapods used in scientific procedures. As part of this approach, the Home Office is developing a roadmap setting out objectives and key milestones to enable the development of the evidence base needed to inform future policy decisions. The Home Office will publish further information on its approach to regulating decapods used in science in due course.

The initial phase of this work focuses on the adoption of industry-led welfare standards, supported by voluntary reporting, targeted training and preparatory work. Further steps may include seeking technical advice and engaging relevant experts where appropriate.

This activity is being undertaken using existing resources and budget. As of July 2026, the Animals in Science Regulation Policy Unit has 8.6 full-time equivalent staff who support a range of priorities including policy development for decapods. The Unit collaborates with a range of other government teams to progress project activity. Resourcing arrangements will be kept under review as the policy develops.

The Home Office has committed to a phased approach to developing proportionate and evidence-based arrangements for the protections of decapods used in science. This will support welfare improvements now while further evidence is gathered to inform any future consideration of regulation.

There is merit in this approach as welfare standards can be introduced more quickly because they can build on existing good practice through voluntary standards and training and reporting, whereas regulatory standards under ASPA require further evidence, technical development and preparation before legally enforceable requirements could be introduced.

The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 recognises decapod crustaceans as sentient beings. The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to their welfare, including where they are used in scientific research.

The Home Office has committed to a phased approach to developing proportionate and evidence-based arrangements for decapods used in science. This approach combines the endorsement of industry led welfare standards for decapods, supported by voluntary reporting, alongside exploring the development of a clear roadmap towards consideration of the potential future inclusion of decapods as “protected animals” under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA).

The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. The Government set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy that it will develop this evidence base through research and continued stakeholder engagement. Research on how live decapods move from sea to plate is due to finish later this year and a project on the welfare of decapod crustaceans across the supply chain is included in the Animal Welfare Committee’s current work plan.

The Government will publish guidance on which methods of killing decapods are compatible with the existing legal requirements on animal welfare at time of killing. This guidance is under development.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. We set out in our Animal Welfare Strategy that we will develop this evidence base through research and continued stakeholder engagement. Defra-commissioned research on how live decapods move from sea to plate is due to finish later this year. In addition, a project on the welfare of decapod crustaceans across the supply chain is included in the Animal Welfare Committee’s current work plan. We will also publish guidance on which methods of killing decapods are compatible with the existing welfare at time of killing legal requirements.

No policy decisions about these animals in relation to the Animal Welfare Act (2006) have been made whilst the evidence base is being built. The Government will keep the legislative position under review, as is standard practice.

The Government is committed to non-animal alternatives in science and has published a strategy which sets out our long-term vision for a world where the use of animals in science is eliminated in all but exceptional circumstances. The strategy is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/replacing-animals-in-science-strategy/replacing-animals-in-science-a-strategy-to-support-the-development-validation-and-uptake-of-alternative-methods

The strategy does not preclude the development of alternatives to the use of animal species not currently covered by the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) protections, including decapod crustaceans.

The Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 recognised decapod crustaceans as sentient beings. The Government remains committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans, both for those caught for human consumption and those used in scientific research.

The Home Office is carefully considering next steps, in collaboration with other relevant departments, on whether decapod crustaceans should be brought within the scope of ASPA.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting animal welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. As part of this, the Department has engaged with key stakeholders, such as the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, regarding current industry practices and standards.

There are no plans to ban the live sale of decapod crustaceans to the public to be consumed as food.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. Defra has commissioned research to address a knowledge gap about how live decapods move from sea to plate. This is due to finish in 2026. In addition, a project on the welfare of decapod crustaceans across the supply chain is included in the Animal Welfare Committee’s current work plan.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. Defra has commissioned research to address a knowledge gap about how live decapods move from sea to plate. This is due to finish in 2026. In addition, a project on the welfare of decapod crustaceans across the supply chain is included in the Animal Welfare Committee’s current work plan.

A project on the “welfare of decapod crustaceans across the supply chain in the UK” is included in the Animal Welfare Committee work plan (available on the AWC website).

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 27227, no policy decisions about these animals in relation to the Animal Welfare Act (2006) have been made whilst the evidence-base is being built.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to improve welfare standards for decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. Defra is commissioning research and expert opinion to inform any future policy decisions and welcomes the continued dialogue with stakeholders. No policy decisions have been made.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to improve welfare standards for decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. Defra seeks to commission research and expert opinion to inform any future policy decisions and welcomes the continued dialogue with stakeholders.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to improve welfare standards for decapod crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. My department is continuing to engage with stakeholders and seeking to address evidence gaps to inform future policy decisions in this area.

Animal welfare legislation protects all animals from being transported in a way likely to cause injury or suffering. Live decapod crustaceans are protected from injury or unnecessary suffering during transportation by a general duty of care provision in Article 4 of The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 (WATEO) and equivalent national legislation in Scotland and Wales.

There are no plans to publish best practice guidance for the transport of live decapod crustaceans.