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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of extending the transition timetable for the new animal activities licence for shops selling reptiles and related species beyond 31 December 2018.

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations) came into force on 1 October and modernise and streamline the licensing system for a range of licensable activities involving animals, including the sale of pets. Anyone applying for a new licence to sell pets in England will now do so under the new Regulations. Existing licences remain in force until their expiry, which is generally 31 December 2018. The Regulations have been subject to wide consultation with interested stakeholders including the pet industry and the reforms are widely welcomed. There are no plans to extend the application of existing licences beyond their current expiry date.