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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has for ensuring that intelligence on illegal puppy importations is shared between (a) Euro Tunnel, (b) ferry operators and (c) other carriers and relevant enforcement agencies.

Sharing intelligence across government and with those organisations transporting pet animals is one of the most important ways of identifying illegal puppy importation. A central intelligence unit has been established within the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). One of the unit’s roles is to review available data and intelligence and ensure it can be shared appropriately with enforcement agencies, animal welfare charities and carriers.

An operational group comprising government enforcement agencies, animal welfare charities and relevant carriers has been set up to support the unit. The role of this group is to identify data and intelligence that can be used to uncover illegality, threats, trends and concerns surrounding puppy importation.