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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to improve measures to prevent the illegal importation of underage puppies after the UK leaves the EU.

While the United Kingdom remains in the European Union we remain signed up to the Pet Travel Scheme and the rules by which dogs and puppies are imported into the United Kingdom.

Since December 2015 the Animal and Plant Health Agency teams have been working in partnership with the Dogs Trust, Kent County Council and Kent Police on a pilot to identify and seize non-compliant dogs at Dover and Folkestone. To date over 600 dogs have been seized the majority being under the minimum age permitted to enter the UK.

Leaving the EU provides us with an opportunity to develop gold standard policies on animal welfare. We are determined to get a good EU exit deal for Britain and we have been absolutely clear we will maintain and enhance our world-leading animal welfare standards.