The Guardian has learned that the animal sentience bill could affect scientific experiments on crabs and lobsters.
There are no restrictions on how crustaceans and decapods can be treated in scientific studies, unlike mice and other mammals, which have strict welfare laws.
Scientists don't have to register how many crustaceans and decapods they experiment on because they don't have to. They breed quickly and are sensitive to pollutants, so they are frequently used in experiments that look into how different types of pollution affect the body.
Home Office sources said that crabs and lobsters could feel pain after being recognised as sentient beings.
The new legislation, which was approved by parliament this month, requires ministers to consider the sentience of animals when implementing policy. There could be restrictions on how crabs and lobsters can be treated.
They are not included in the act like mice and other animals. No licences or training are required before procedures that can cause pain, suffering or distress can be used.
The research that found crabs and lobsters feel pain was authored by Robert Ellwood. He said that the development must be applied to the commercial fishing industry as well as scientists.
If people are happy to accept that decapods are sentient and experience pain, then they should be given some protection. Ellwood, who has worked with crustaceans for 30 years, said that leaving millions of animals in commercial practices that are treated the same as before would be a problem.
To allow these animals to be boiled alive at will would be unfair to the scientists.
It will take longer to conduct an experiment, but it is a good thing if it is applied across the board.
It would not be right to cause pain, suffering or distress to a mouse, rat or fish in a laboratory without proper regulation and ethical review.
If there was enough evidence that decapods were sentient, they would be added to the legislation. The time to regulate decapod use is now, and the evidence has been collected.
The UK is committed to the protection of animals in science and to ensuring animal research is only carried out where there is no alternative. We are committed to investing in alternatives to animals.
The use of animals in research supports the development of new medicines and cutting-edge medical technologies, for humans and animals, as well as the safety andsustainability of our environment.
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