The Action Plan for Animal Welfare sets out our plans, aims and ambitions across 5 key areas:

• sentience and enforcement
• international trade and advocacy
• farm animals
• pets and sporting animals
• wild animals

The Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said:

"Our departure from the EU has provided us with an opportunity to do things better. We can take action to ban the live exports of animals for slaughter and fattening, take forward legislation on puppy smuggling and now we are an independent trading nation and have regained our own voice on wildlife conventions, world forums and organisations we can take a more assertive role on the world stage.

"This action plan sets the foundation for this, laying out our aims and ambitions for animal welfare domestically and internationally.

"Our proposals will shape how we interact and care for our animals, including our pets, farmed animals and kept wild animals. This includes setting new higher ambitions as well as tackling problems more effectively. In addition to treating our own animals in the right way, I intend to address some unacceptable practices abroad and set a clear global sense of direction including on international conservation and trade.

"The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has put a spotlight on animal welfare. From the overwhelming support and comfort provided by pets, to the importance of a secure food supply chain founded upon high-welfare farming, high welfare standards have never been more important."