Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Second Report - Pet welfare and abuse
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
HC 161
Published 5 April 2024
Recommendations
20
Accepted in Part
Implement specific measures limiting pet imports and banning puppies, kittens, and late-term pregnant animals.
Recommendation
As soon as possible, and certainly by the end of the current Parliament, the Government must ensure the following measures are implemented: • A limit on the number of dogs, cats and ferrets that can be imported by an individual …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts, supporting a Private Members’ Bill that will limit pet imports per vehicle/passenger and give powers to prohibit the import of puppies and kittens under six months, heavily pregnant animals, and those with non-exempted mutilations.
27
Accepted in Part
Para 113
Lax border controls facilitate fraudulent equine trade for European slaughterhouses.
Recommendation
We welcome the introduction of new legislation to ban the export of live animals, including cattle, sheep and horses, for slaughter and fattening. There is a low risk and high reward element to the equine trade, with unscrupulous individuals taking …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges concerns and partially accepts the recommendation. While progress on a digitized equine identification system is delayed due to financial pressures, the government has banned the export of livestock and horses for slaughter from Great Britain and is working with industry to prevent horses being exported for slaughter, aiming for an evidence based option in early 2025.
28
Accepted in Part
Implement enhanced digital equine identification measures to prevent trafficking of horses for slaughter.
Recommendation
Alongside the ongoing Animal Welfare (Live Exports) Bill, stronger control measures are needed to prevent the trafficking of horses for slaughter. By the end of the current Parliament, the Government should ensure it has implemented measures to enhance and support …
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Government Response Summary
The government partially accepts the recommendation to enhance digital equine identification. Due to public finance pressures, it is currently unable to progress with the delivery of a digitised system but is considering interim measures to improve the current regime.