Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that changes being proposed to the Standards of Modern Zoo Practice are (a) proportionate and (b) justified, in order to ensure that appropriate standards of animal welfare and conservation are met.

Defra is currently consulting on updated Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain. The Standards have been reviewed by Defra and the UK Zoos Expert Committee to reflect updates in best practice for keeping wild animals in captivity. They have also been redrafted to make them clearer to aid compliance and enforcement. Further changes to the proposed Standards will be considered after the consultation has closed, to ensure they are both proportionate but also represent current best industry practice. The consultation, which has been extended by four weeks, is due to close on 21 June 2022.