Many readers of www.visitscunthorpe.com and followers of the BernardAndPaul Twitter feed will already be aware of the Governments intention to adopt new EU rules which would allow newborn puppies, kittens, ferrets and fox cubs to be killed by a blow to the head.  The proposals are buried deep in a lengthy Home Office Consultation Document setting out how it intends to implement a new EU law on animal testing.

The plans, on page 4 of an Appendix, discuss proposed 'Methods of Killing' and support the introduction of 'Concussion/percussive blow to the head' as a method of killing 'neonate' dogs, cats, ferrets and foxes or new-born animals up to a few weeks old.

In some countries, this method is occasionally used to euthanise farm animals.  However, one veterinary textbook – “Improving Animal Welfare; A Practical Approach” - describes this method of killing as "Manual Blunt Force Trauma" and observes:

"Common acceptable tools used for manual blunt force include ball peen hammers, steel rods, wooden clubs and pipes... Consistency of delivery is a challenge, therefore manual blunt force trauma is questionable in terms of reliability and effectiveness... One of the big problems with blunt force trauma is that caring stock-people who are good at taking care of infant animals often do not want to use this method."

Despite these warnings, Home Office officials have commented that this method is: 'Likely to be humane' suggesting a disturbing lack of regard for animal welfare on the part of the Government.

At present, many animal handlers in laboratories refuse to kill animals using what are classed as humane methods because they fear it will desensitise them.  As such, fears are being raised over the psychology of those who would be prepared the methods discussed.

Nevertheless, by even proposing to allow this method, the Government is demonstrating that it is willing to ditch existing higher welfare standards in the UK which has led Dr Dan Lyons, Campaigns Director at Uncaged a leading animal welfare lobbying group, to comment:

"The barbaric methods of the Canadian seal hunt are poised to arrive in British labs and breeding establishments. The only thing the Government appears to care about is any 'poor public perception', with no real concern whatsoever for the animals themselves."

Speaking exclusively, Shadow Junior Minister Kerry McCarthy MP told us that:

“I have real concerns that the Government is using backdoor means to lower animal welfare standards in this country without proper public scrutiny and debate.  We should be setting an example to the rest of the EU, not lowering our standards to their level.  This shows, once again, this government’s lack of commitment to animal welfare issues.”

Ms McCarthy, a well known vegan and animal rights campaigner, also informed us exclusively of her intention to table a question on the issue in Parliament “so that the Government is forced to answer to the public who don’t want more animal testing and certainly don’t want the introduction of less humane practices in laboratories.”

The Home Office consultation exercise, which ends at midnight on the 5^th September, seeks views on how it can 'transpose' the new EU Directive on animal experiments into UK legislation and will set the scene for animal experiments for a generation.  Currently approximately 3.5 million animals are used in experiments likely to cause 'pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm' in the UK every year.

Many of the legal provisions in the EU law are weaker than existing UK measures and there is widespread concern that, under pressure from industry, the Government is determined to take this chance to lower many UK standards to the EU level. The Home Office Consultation document contains a vague reference to retaining some stronger UK measures, but analysis of the document reveals that these are relatively scarce.  Not surprisingly, Uncaged argue that because this is an issue with enormous animal welfare, scientific and public interest implications, any new laws should be introduced as primary legislation to ensure full democratic accountability.