Asked by: Baroness Sanderson of Welton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to strengthen the provisions of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill to end the illegal smuggling of dogs into Great Britain for sale through the exploitation of the Pet Travel Scheme.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill includes measures to deliver our manifesto commitment to tackle puppy smuggling. The Bill reduces the number of pet dogs, cats and ferrets that can be moved under the pet travel rules. The Bill also includes powers to introduce further restrictions on pet travel and on the commercial import of cats, dogs and ferrets on welfare grounds, via secondary legislation. In August 2021, the Government launched a consultation on how these powers could be used including proposals to ban the import of puppies under the age of six months. We are currently analysing the replies to this consultation and will publish our response in due course.