Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that online platforms effectively identify and remove misleading advertisements relating to pet health and nutrition products.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) prohibits unfair commercial practices, including misleading actions and omissions, that are likely to affect the average consumer's transactional decisions. This applies to advertisements for all products, including pet health and nutrition products. The DMCCA also clarifies that online platforms, when facilitating the supply or promotion of products to consumers, must exercise professional diligence in relation to consumer transactions promoted or made on their platforms. The legislation carries criminal penalties and is enforced by Trading Standards and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).