PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Pets: Imports (28 August 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent to which illegal puppy and kitten dealers have established themselves as rescue centres to continue their trade (a) in the UK and (b) overseas since the ban on third-party sales of such animals came into force in the UK.

Asked by:
Mr Richard Holden (Conservative)

No official reports of such activity have been brought to Defra’s attention since the introduction of Lucy’s Law, but anecdotal information provided by respondents to the consultation on commercial third-party sales of puppies and kittens (held in 2019) reflected concerns about profit-driven activity in the rescue and rehoming sector. Defra has been engaging with the sector directly to understand their views and the possible impacts of regulating the sector to improve transparency and accountability. Any proposal to bring forward regulations in England will be subject to a consultation.

Any cases of pet dealers attempting to circumvent the recent ban on third-party sales should be reported to the relevant local authorities, as enforcers of the legislation.

Answered by:
Victoria Prentis (Conservative)
8 September 2020