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 introduce regulatory standards in the operation of canine fertility clinics.

Canine fertility clinics are already subject to regulatory standards as a result of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (“the 2018 Regulations”), the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, and the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, amongst others. For example, under the 2018 Regulations, anyone in the business of breeding and selling dogs and/or who breeds three or more litters in a twelve-month period needs to hold a valid licence issued by their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse or revoke licences. We are in the process of reviewing the 2018 Regulations, including considering whether the regulations’ scope is sufficient to protect breeding dogs in all settings. The report will be published soon.