Well balanced and effective legislation is required to protect animals and to address the concerns of organizations with interests in animal welfare. The principal aim of animal welfare legislation is the protection of animals by the prevention of suffering, pain and distress. This can be achieved by identifying animals’ needs and by the prohibition of procedures having a detrimental effect on welfare. Welfare policy and legislation are determined by many factors, including the results from government-funded research, advice from bodies such as the Farm Animal Welfare Council and other interested organizations and pressure groups, and compliance cost assessments. The mechanisms and processes of consultation and drafting legislation, and of the passage of a bill through parliament, are lengthy procedures and take a considerable time to complete. Although animal welfare issues in Scotland will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, it is not envisaged that there will be a divergence of policy within the UK as a whole. The legislation itself is clearly important but it is also imperative that it is actively and effectively enforced by all the relevant authorities. All aspects of animal welfare legislation are continually reviewed on both a UK and an EU basis.