Cooking live lobsters and crabs banned in the hospitality sector

For whom?

• businesses that prepare European lobsters, Canadian lobsters, or North Sea crabs

What changes?

Do you prepare European lobsters, Canadian lobsters, or North Sea crabs? You will no longer be allowed to cook these whilst they are still alive. The government wants to ban this practice because the animals experience pain and stress during this process.

The main changes are:

• You can no longer cook live European lobsters, Canadian lobsters, and North Sea crabs. The ban will initially apply only to these species.
• The government may add other species to the ban at a later date.
• The government can lay down rules on how these animals must be rendered unconscious before cooking at a later date.

When?

It is expected this ban will enter into effect on 1 July 2027.