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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of amending the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 to remove the requirement for racing greyhounds to be identified by earmarking.

One of the original objectives of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 was to improve the traceability of greyhounds in England during and after their racing life. The 2010 Regulations therefore require all greyhounds racing in England to be permanently identified by both microchip and ear tattoo. Any future review of the 2010 Regulations would include assessing the merits of still requiring two methods of permanent identification for racing greyhounds.