Select committee: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Conclusion 16
Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse
Published 5 Apr 2024
Paragraph 71
Addressed to Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Pet welfare and abuse All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Animal welfare legislation must be consistently and robustly enforced if it is to achieve its statutory objectives and act as a deterrent to unscrupulous breeders seeking to circumvent the law. Local authorities play a vital role in the licensing and enforcement activities that protect animal welfare. The ability of local authorities to perform key regulatory activities is constrained by a lack of specialist knowledge and training, and inadequate funding and resourcing. This results in an inconsistent approach nationally, and a postcode lottery in terms of levels of understanding and prioritisation of animal welfare issues. If enforcers are unable to meet their statutory duties under LAIA regulations, perpetrators may become emboldened to flout them.
From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse (HC 161), paragraph 71, 5 April 2024
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 20 December 2024 (deadline 5 June 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and says it is "carefully considering" the recommendations, partially accepting several, rejecting one on penalties for illegal veterinary surgery, and setting out no plans to change some import and border controls "at this time".
- On the dog litter licensing threshold, it "partially accepts" the recommendation but says reducing it "may result in unintended consequences", and is considering the threshold and scope in its post-implementation review of the LAIA Regulations.
- On puppy smuggling and mutilated imports, it "partially accepts" the recommendation and is "fully supportive" of the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members' Bill, wanting it to pass "as soon as Parliamentary time allows".
- It "rejects" the recommendation on fines for illegal veterinary surgery, saying existing penalties are higher than suggested in evidence provided to the Committee.
- On rabies testing, it has "no plans to introduce these requirements at this time", and says its future policy "will be guided by risk assessment".