Petition
Ban the commercial breeding of guinea pigs for human consumption in the UK.
Rejected
11 signatures
What the petition asks
We want the UK Government to prohibit the commercial breeding, farming and slaughter of guinea pigs for human consumption across the UK.
Guinea pigs are widely kept as companion animals in the UK. Allowing them to be bred solely for meat raises serious animal welfare and ethical concerns and is contrary to public expectations of how companion animals should be treated. We believe the law should clearly prevent commercial enterprises from breeding guinea pigs for human consumption and ensure that animal welfare legislation reflects the special status these animals hold in British society.
Why it was rejected
It was not clear what the petition asked the UK Government or Parliament to do.
There is no commercial guinea pig meat industry in the UK.
No licensed slaughterhouses process guinea pigs for human consumption.
Guinea pigs are not listed as a permitted food species under the Food Standards Agency’s regulations for slaughter and meat hygiene.
This means the practice the petition wants to ban is not currently happening and is already effectively prohibited.
No licensed slaughterhouses process guinea pigs for human consumption.
Guinea pigs are not listed as a permitted food species under the Food Standards Agency’s regulations for slaughter and meat hygiene.
This means the practice the petition wants to ban is not currently happening and is already effectively prohibited.
Timeline
| 1 Jul 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 27 Jul 2026 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
11
Status
Rejected
Rejected
27 Jul 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 23 Aug 2026.