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 is taking to regulate online pet sales.

Defra endorses the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) to combat growing concerns regarding the irresponsible advertising of pets for sale, rehoming, and exchange. Defra have backed a set of Advertising Standards that PAAG developed which several of the UK’s largest classified websites have agreed to meet.

Under current regulations, anyone who is in the business of selling animals as pets or breeding and selling dogs needs a valid licence from their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities. Any licensee advertising animals for sale must list certain details in the advert, including their licence number and the local authority which issued the licence.