Subject: Humane killing rules for crabs and lobsters

Please consider legislation or agency guidance requiring crabs, lobsters and other decapod crustaceans to be made unconscious and killed before boiling, steaming, cutting or other invasive processing begins.

A major review commissioned by the UK government examined more than 300 studies and recommended treating all decapod crustaceans as sentient animals for animal welfare law. The United Kingdom now includes decapod crustaceans in the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022.

A practical rule should require trained staff, a method suitable for the species, confirmation that the animal is unconscious and completion of killing before cooking or processing begins.

Please let me know whether you would support this type of protection and which agency or legislative committee would be responsible for considering it.