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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure better protection of third party sales of puppies; and if she will make a statement.

Following a consultation last year, Defra published a Next Steps document in February 2017 which set out proposals to improve local authority animal licencing schemes, including on pet sales, to enhance animal welfare. We propose to make it an offence to sell puppies and kittens aged younger than eight weeks.

We will also require all licensed pet shops and all other pet vendors to comply with statutory welfare conditions which raise animal welfare standards.