Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the evidence base was for requiring third-party liability insurance for banned breeds, and what will be the impact of removing the requirement.

Insurance formed part of the safeguards attached to Certificates of Exemption, providing financial protection for dog owners in the event of an incident. No alternative third-party public liability insurance product is currently available for banned breed dogs following the withdrawal of the only provider. This was a commercial decision. The requirement has therefore been removed from 1 July 2026, to ensure otherwise compliant owners are not placed in breach of the law through no fault of their own.

Owners of exempted dogs must continue to meet all other conditions of their Certificate of Exemption, including keeping dogs muzzled and on a lead in public places, and remain legally responsible for any harm caused by their dogs.