Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Accepted
Paragraph: 30
Publish clearer guidance for local authorities on prohibited dog breeding under LAIA regulations.
Recommendation
The Government should produce clearer guidance for local authority enforcers regarding Section six of LAIA regulations, which prohibit the breeding of dogs where there are reasonable expectations that their genetics or health would lead to welfare problems. This guidance should include a list of breeds for which it is unlikely that a licence would be issued, and exceptional cases in which they might.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government acknowledges potential risks but states existing legislation, including the Animal Welfare Act 2006, already provides enforcement agencies with powers to protect animals from harm and address welfare needs. It also supports efforts by sector groups and encourages public reporting.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
30
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
The Government notes the Committee’s concern about the breeding of dogs whose health may be compromised and partially accepts the Committee’s recommendation. Condition 6(5) of Schedule 6 of the LAIA Regulations is a crucial provision. Its application is intended to prevent licensed dog breeders from breeding from dogs where that can reasonably be expected to result in poor health or welfare outcomes for the breeding dog or their puppies, such as extreme conformation or inherited disease. The listing of specific breeds for whom a licence would not be issued has the potential to lead to unintended consequences. For example, such an approach could restrict responsible licensed breeders and shift the breeding of breeds for which a licence is unachievable to unlicensed breeders. This would result in less local authority oversight with the potential for worse welfare outcomes for the breeding dogs and their offspring and may incentivise large-scale illegal breeding activity to meet continued demand. As many dog breeds are prone to some form of hereditary ailment and as these ailments do not impact all dogs of a particular breed, or impact all affected dogs to the same extent, it may be worth considering whether to work to move breeding practices towards high-welfare high-health outcomes instead of introducing additional guidance. Recommendation 4: There are currently few legal safeguards to protect cats and their kittens, as cat breeding is not a licensable activity. Cat breeding should be awarded the same legislative safeguards and regulations as dog breeding under LAIA regulations.
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