The maximum sentence for animal cruelty will be increased to five years in jail and animal sentience will be enshrined in law.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the tough new legislation will help protect animals.
On a visit to Battersea Dog and Cats Home yesterday, he also said Brexit would help Britain improve animal welfare standards and combat problems like puppy smuggling.
The Government has published a draft bill which will increase the highest penalty for cruelty to animals from six months to five years in England and Wales.
The maximum sentence for animal cruelty will be increased to five years in jail and animal sentience will be enshrined in law, Michael Gove has said
By contrast, the maximum sentence is two years in France, three years in Germany and five years in both Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The draft also says Ministers ‘must have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings in formulating and implementing Government policy’.
The announcement follows controversy over an inaccurate report that Tory MPs had voted that animals did not feel pain. The report spread rapidly online, prompting a furious reaction from Conservatives.
Last month, MPs voted against an amendment to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, which would have transferred an EU protocol recognising animals as sentient beings into domestic law.
Mr Gove denied it was a vote against the idea that animals feel pain and argued that the amendment risked creating legal confusion.
He said: ‘As we leave the EU we will deliver a Green Brexit, not only maintaining but enhancing animal welfare standards.
‘Animals are sentient beings who feel pain and suffering, so we are writing that principle into law and ensuring that we protect their welfare.
‘Our plans will also increase sentences for those who commit the most heinous acts of animal cruelty to five years in jail.
On a visit to Battersea Dog and Cats Home yesterday, he also said Brexit would help Britain improve animal welfare standards and combat problems like puppy smuggling (file photo)
‘We are a nation of animal lovers so we will make Brexit work not just for citizens but for the animals we love and cherish too.’
The Brexit Secretary added: ‘One of the reasons why people voted to leave the European Union is to make sure that when it comes to, for example things like puppy smuggling, that we can have the rules here which ensure that there is appropriate welfare and appropriate protection for animals and for humans.’
He said the plans are part of Government efforts to ensure that Brexit works ‘not just for citizens but for the animals we love and cherish too’.
Claire Horton, chief executive of Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, said the rescue centre was ‘delighted’ by the announcement.
She said: ‘It will make a massive difference for animals and hopefully really start to act as a deterrent and put England back where it should be at the top of the league tables for animal welfare.’