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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to help improve the regulation of the pet industry.

Activities such as the breeding and sale of pets and pet boarding are regulated under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. Defra is in the process of completing a post-implementation review (PIR) of the Regulations. This review considers whether the regulations have met their objectives, and where there could be scope for further improvements. We recognise the importance of this PIR, and thus want to ensure that we have had sufficient time to properly consider the findings. The PIR will be published soon.

Defra values the engagement of sector partners, local authorities, animal welfare groups, and licensed and unlicensed businesses working in the sector. We will continue a close dialogue with these stakeholders as we work to implement the review’s recommendations.