Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 9
9
Rejected
Paragraph: 26
Within Defra’s policies there is an increasing focus on the prevention of pet smuggling.
Conclusion
Within Defra’s policies there is an increasing focus on the prevention of pet smuggling. However, this increased policy focus has not been matched by an increased prioritisation of the issue or increased funding within Border Force or APHA. Furthermore, we note above the need for responsibility for checking pets at borders to move from the carriers to Government agencies.
Government response summary AI-generated
The Government states that responsibility for pet checks will remain with authorised carriers and there are no plans to provide additional funding for local authority risk-based checks, though APHA is working on Border Control Post resource requirements for a new import regime.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
26
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government · verbatim extract
Rejected
APHA is the primary operational delivery agency for pet movements. Defra, Border Force and APHA work collaboratively to share intelligence to support the prevention of illegal imports. Responsibility for conducting pet checks on non-commercial movements is delegated to authorised carriers and pet checkers who can refuse travel to non-compliant animals or share intelligence with APHA who can intercept at the port/border if non- compliance is suspected. Local Authorities are the enforcement and prosecuting bodies 6 Government Response: Moving animals across borders for any offences discovered during the process of smuggling puppies. These roles are not anticipated to change following the introduction of measures under the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. APHA is working closely with Defra to determine Border Control Post (BCP) resource requirements and provide capacity in readiness for the new 2022 Live Animal Imports regime. There are no plans to provide Local Authorities with additional funding for risk- based checks at this stage.
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