Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Pet Travel Scheme in tackling pet smuggling.
Answered by George Eustice
The carriers which carry out checks to ensure pets animals are compliant with Pet Travel Scheme rules are audited by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the results show that they are performing satisfactorily. In 2014, APHA audited close to 6,000 pets. Of these only 0.9% of the pets were found not to comply with the entry rules. These pets were either detained until their compliance could be established, re-exported or placed into quarantine.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many animals have entered the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme since that scheme's introduction.
Answered by George Eustice
Since 1 January 2012, when the United Kingdom harmonised with European Union rules for the non-commercial movement of pet animals the number that entered Great Britain under the EU Pet Travel Scheme on approved routes was 170,659 in 2014, 147,117 in 2013 and 134,655 in 2012.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations she has received on reforms to the Pet Travel Scheme to make it harder to smuggle animals into the UK.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra actively shares intelligence relating to abuse of the EU pet travel scheme. Evidence collected by the Animal and Plant Health Agency, Local Authorities and welfare organisations has led to investigations in other EU countries.
The UK maintains effective border controls and all the relevant agencies work together to target people who systematically abuse the rules.
The illegal trade is ultimately driven by demand. Defra have published guidance on buying a pet and have worked closely with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group to drive up standards for online advertisements.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken at UK border ports to tackle the illegal smuggling of puppies and other animals into the UK.
Answered by George Eustice
Enforcement of the rules governing the importation of animals is the responsibility of Local Authorities. Effective enforcement relies on close co-operation between a number of different agencies and should be intelligence led. As regards the illegal smuggling of puppies, Local Authorities and other agencies carry out targeted interventions at the border. To help build on this, Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency are considering what steps can be taken to improve enforcement and is being assisted by the Dogs Trust and RSCPA in this work.
Defra is also working closely with Border Force to agree a framework for co-operation to ensure the effective enforcement of legislation governing the import of animals, including puppies.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of co-operation between the devolved administrations and her Department in tackling animal cruelty crimes.
Answered by George Eustice
Animal welfare matters are devolved and no specific assessment of the effectiveness of co-operation between the devolved administrations and Defra has been made. However, we have regular dialogue with colleagues in the devolved administrations on issues relating to animal welfare.