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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to help identify puppies born to dogs identified as American Bully XLs.

Defra advises that XL Bully breeders should now stop all breeding activity as it will be a criminal offence to breed from, sell, transfer, exchange, gift or advertise these dogs from 31 December 2023. Defra convened an expert group to define the XL Bully breed type and guidance on this definition is available on gov.uk. Owners who are unsure if their puppy or adolescent dog will grow to be an XL Bully type breed are advised to apply for a Certificate of Exemption by 31 January 2024. From 1 February 2024 it will be a criminal offence to own an XL Bully dog in England and Wales without a Certificate of Exemption.