A new bill aimed at protecting animals from unnecessary cruelty could see lobsters prevented from being boiled alive.
The UK government's new Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill would declare invertebrates (like lobsters, crabs and octopuses) as sentient beings who can feel pain.
According to the Metro, campaigners believe that stunning the lobster or freezing them inn cold air before they're cooked is a more humane death.
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Before the legislation gets approved, the government is consulting with the restaurant and food industry to see if they have any other strategies that could work.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said: We're proud to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and we are fully committed to strengthening them further to ensure all animals avoid any unnecessary pain, distress or suffering.
"We have commissioned an independent external review of the available scientific evidence and will carefully consider the results of this review."
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If the bill passes then it would bring Britain in line with the likes of Switzerland, Norway and New Zealand, who have all banned the boiling of lobsters.
UK environment secretary George Eustice said in a statement earlier this year: "We are a nation of animal lovers and were the first country in the world to pass animal welfare laws.
"Our action plan for animal welfare will deliver on our manifesto commitment to ban the export of live animal exports for slaughter and fattening, prohibit keeping primates as pets, and bring in new laws to tackle puppy smuggling.
"As an independent nation, we are now able to go further than ever to build on our excellent track record."
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But it's not just lobsters, crabs and octopuses who will be targeted under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill.
It will also be mandatory for cats to be microchipped, the exports of live animals for slaughter will be banned, along with training collars that electrocute dogs. You also won't be able to wrap live shellfish in shrink wrap and posting them.
Import rules will be change to stop the puppy smuggling trade and there will be bans on the ivory and shark fin trade.
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Farmers will be given incentives to change the way they keep and store live animals, with the government opting out of introducing strict rules on cages and crates for poultry and pigs.
British authorities will have a renewed crackdown of illegal hare coursing and the sale and use of glue traps will be restricted, according to the Guardian.
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