{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/775972.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":775972,"attributes":{"action":"Ban the breeding of guinea pigs for human consumption in the UK","background":"I want the UK Government to introduce legislation making it illegal to breed guinea pigs for the purpose of human consumption in the UK. This should include a ban on commercial and private breeding of guinea pigs intended for use as food.","additional_details":"Guinea pigs are commonly kept as companion animals in the UK, but there is no specific law that prohibits breeding them for the purpose of human consumption. I believe this should be made illegal.\r\n\r\nI believe banning the breeding of guinea pigs for food would strengthen animal welfare protections, provide clear legal guidance, and reflect the role guinea pigs have as companion animals in the UK.","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":21,"created_at":"2026-07-03T13:07:57.474Z","updated_at":"2026-07-28T13:08:22.000Z","rejected_at":"2026-07-28T13:08:20.423Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-07-03T19:00:10.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":{"code":"no-action","details":"This is unclear as there appears to be no evidence that there is a market for breeding guinea pigs for human consumption in the UK.\r\n\r\nThere is certainly no commercial guinea pig meat industry in the UK.\r\n\r\nNo licensed slaughterhouses process guinea pigs for human consumption.\r\n\r\nGuinea pigs are not listed as a permitted food species under the Food Standards Agency’s regulations for slaughter and meat hygiene.\r\n\r\nThis means the practice the petition wants to ban is not currently happening and is already effectively prohibited."},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}