20th Anniversary of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act

On this momentous occasion in 2026, the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission have decided to review the legislation.

The emergence of online sales and increased animal welfare problems, experienced by local authorities with public animal owners in Scotland, have prompted the need for action.

Veiled Chameleon Chamaeleo calypratus

"Exotic pet keeping"

was one of the topics highlighted as an issue in a SAWC meeting on 14 May 2026 and

"3 sub-work groups continue to discuss the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, with the aim of reporting on and reviewing it, 20 years-on, focusing on:

Legislation

Science

Public Attitudes."

It comes at a time when "pet keeping" Positive Lists were proposed by the SPCA at the end of 2025 as a lawful movement.

OneKind, BornFree and the SPCA introduced the Don't Pet Me campaign in May 2025.

On the campaign report they state

"that many animals are being kept in poor welfare, which includes many species likely to be included on a permitted list. Keeping any animal is a responsibility, not a right ,and should be dependent on being able to provide for that animal to have a good life."

The Animal Welfare Party

"received 2032 votes / 0.6%"

in the Scottish Parliament Elections of May 2026 and are

"Prioritising companion animal welfare by stopping the sale of animals online & in shops, phasing out the exotic pet trade and making ‘pet theft’ a specific offence."

Opposition

There are opposition parties to this white list.

Among these are Responsible Reptile Keeping:

"Tony Wigley, a founder of Responsible Reptile Keeping, argues that the positive-list proposal fails under the slightest scrutiny.

'Positive lists fail on every level, which is why they have been a disaster in every region where they were introduced. They’re not based on sound science, they’re impossible to enforce, and they punish responsible keepers while doing nothing about the bad ones. They push good keepers underground and make veterinary care more unlikely. They damage conservation and breeding programmes, and wipe out the very expertise that has driven improvements in welfare for decades,' says Wigley.


'Positive lists don’t solve problems; they create new ones."

Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) are also one of the opposers to the positive list.

OATA's emblem in response the list

A report on the bill's review is due at the end of 2026.

Scottish Animal Welfare Commission member Mike Radford, laywer specialising in Animal Welfare, has been reached for comment.