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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many recorded instances there have been of the sale of (a) dog and (b) cat meat in (i) West Yorkshire and (ii) England since 1 January 2021.

The Government has seen no evidence that dog or cat meat is being sold or consumed in this country.

There are strict rules for food businesses on slaughter and production of meat for human consumption in the UK and dog or cat meat would not be permitted under these requirements. We also have specific laws on the sale of food in England which are enforced under the Novel Foods Regulation 2018. These regulations make it an offence to sell dog or cat meat in England.

The UK is a nation of animal lovers and citizens of this country find the consumption of dog and cat meat inconceivable. This Government strongly agrees with this view and is appalled by the prospect of dogs or cats being consumed.