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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of carriers enforcing checks on dogs traveling under the Pet Travel Scheme.

Engagement at the border with major transport carriers has indicated that they are committed to preventing illegal imports of pet animals. Some carriers have already instituted their own measures to reduce carriage of pet animals. This includes P&O Ferries refusing accounts to commercial dog importers and Eurotunnel limiting the number of dogs that can be transported in one vehicle. Carriers have been willing to work with us to increase enforcement through additional training, checks and controls.

Each carrier is subject to quality assurance checks including a minimum of one full audit per year to ensure compliance with the procedures agreed with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) set out in the carriers’ Required Method of Operation (RMOP). The number of quality assurance visits is based on volumes, results of previous visits, performance and any high risk considerations. Furthermore, APHA field teams carry out liaison visits and are in regular communication with carriers. If any non-compliance is found, extra checks will be completed as part of recorded follow-on actions.

Observations made by APHA on pet travel, including levels of compliance and carrier knowledges and behaviours, show good awareness of pet travel rules.