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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2019 to Question 230935, whether his Department has drafted the primary legislation required to ban third party selling of puppies and kittens; and if he will make a statement.

The ban on third party sales of puppies and kittens is an important step towards further improving welfare standards for puppies in England. On 23 December 2018 the Government announced that it would bringing forward the ban as soon as possible. The necessary secondary legislation is being drafted and will be laid in Parliament as soon as practically possible. When introduced, the ban will address welfare concerns associated with the sale of puppies by dealers and pet shops. It will also crack down on unscrupulous breeders who operate with little regard for animal welfare.