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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 28 March 2022 to Question 144849 on Dogs: imports, when his Department will publish its response to the consultation on proposed restrictions to the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets into Great Britain; what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a ban on the import of pregnant dogs; and if he will take steps prior to the publication of the consultation response to restrict the transport of dogs subjected to low welfare practices.

We are analysing the responses to the consultation and will publish a summary in due course. This will allow us to fully assess the views of the public and interested groups to shape our future policy including on the import of pregnant dogs.

We take the issue of low-welfare movements of dogs seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to animals. We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. The Animal and Plant Health Agency already works collaboratively with Border Force and other operational partners at ports, airports and inland to safeguard the welfare of animals and seize non-compliant animals.