Found: , 29 November 2022 164 Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs ( PWA0032 ) 165 PQ 9279 [ Dogs

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the illegal smuggling of dogs into the UK.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As outlined in our manifesto, the Government is committed to ending puppy smuggling. We will clamp down on unscrupulous traders who prioritise profit over welfare. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver this and will be setting out next steps in due course

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of puppies illegally smuggled into the UK for sale in the last five years.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

By its very nature, we cannot know the true extent of puppy smuggling operations. However, the Animal and Plant Health Agency does hold data on the numbers of interceptions and detentions. In 2023, there were over 500 landings of cats and dogs intercepted at the Port of Dover and found to be non-compliant with the import requirements. Of these, 116 puppies and kittens were quarantined for being below the legally required minimum age for import.

The Government is committed to introducing the most ambitious boost in animal welfare in a generation.  As outlined in the manifesto, this includes ending puppy smuggling.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he is taking steps to enhance the enforcement capabilities at borders to prevent the smuggling of puppies and kittens into the UK.

Answered by Tom Pursglove

Border Force’s number one priority is to keep our borders safe and secure, and we will never compromise on this. Border Force officers work tirelessly, working closely with law enforcement agencies to share intelligence.

Border Force has extensive powers to examine and control traffic for a wide variety of purposes, and through its work at the border is able to examine vehicles and freight and ensure detections of illegal imports are referred to the most relevant authority or enforcement agency for action.

If live animals are detected, Border Force is responsible for the detention of the animals and vehicle, and then referring to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at the appropriate border control post for further enforcement action.

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 he has made of the adequacy of resources allocated to enforcement agencies responsible for checking pets entering the UK to effectively counter puppy and kitten smuggling.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Defra regularly engages with enforcement agencies regarding tackling illegal pet smuggling and appropriate resourcing.

Local authorities and the Animal and Plant Health Agency are responsible for enforcing pet travel and commercial import requirements.

Authorised carriers and pet checkers have the delegated responsibility for conducting pet checks on non-commercial movements. They can refuse travel for non-compliant animals or share intelligence with the Animal and Plant Health Agency who can intercept at the port or border if non-compliance is suspected.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing sanctions for cases of puppy smuggling.

Answered by Mark Spencer

In August 2021, the Government launched a consultation on proposed restrictions, including enforcement measures, to the commercial import and non-commercial movement of pets into Great Britain. We are carefully reviewing the feedback gathered from our consultation and wider engagement with stakeholders, and a summary will be published soon.

The Government supports the Private Members’ Bill, Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, introduced by Selaine Saxby MP on restricting the importation and non-commercial movement of pets. The Bill will contain powers that will enable future regulations, including penalties and offences, for non-compliant commercial and non-commercial movements of pets into the United Kingdom.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to enforce (a) legislative provisions and (b) border controls relating to puppy smuggling.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government supports the Private Members’ Bill, Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for North Devon on restricting the importation and non-commercial movement of pets. The Bill will contain powers that will enable future regulations for commercial and non-commercial movements of pets into the United Kingdom including prohibiting the import of dogs with cropped ears.

We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. The Animal and Plant Health Agency works collaboratively with Border Force and other operational partners at ports, airports and inland, sharing intelligence to enforce the pet travel rules, disrupt illegal imports, safeguard the welfare of animals and seize non-compliant animals.

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 adequacy of penalties for people illegally importing dogs.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government takes the illegal importation of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to animals.

In August 2021, the Government launched an 8-week consultation on proposed restrictions to the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets into Great Britain, and appropriate penalties for those who illegally import dogs. We are carefully reviewing this feedback and wider engagement with stakeholders in the animal welfare sector and a summary will be published in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help reduce puppy smuggling between Northern Ireland and England.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government takes the illegal importation of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to animals.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency continues to work collaboratively with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland and other relevant authorities, sharing intelligence to disrupt illegal imports and safeguard the welfare of animals.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce stand-alone legislative proposals to tackle puppy smuggling.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government takes the illegal importation of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to animals.

The Government is committed to delivering the manifesto commitment on puppy smuggling. We plan to take forward measures to crack down on puppy smuggling as soon as parliamentary time allows.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to tackle puppy smuggling.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government takes the illegal importation of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to animals.

The Government is committed to delivering the manifesto commitment on puppy smuggling. We plan to take forward measures to crack down on puppy smuggling as soon as parliamentary time allows.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to help tackle puppy smuggling.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government takes the illegal importation of pets seriously. It is an abhorrent trade which causes suffering to animals.

The Government is committed to delivering the manifesto commitment on puppy smuggling. We plan to take forward measures to crackdown on puppy smuggling as soon as parliamentary time allows.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of puppies that have been illegally smuggled into the UK for sale in each of the last five years.

Answered by Mark Spencer

Due to the nature of smuggling, the Animal and Plant Health Agency does not hold specific data on the total number of puppies illegally smuggled each year.

The total number of non-compliances detected on certificates accompanying commercially imported dogs, cats and ferrets from EU countries are:

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 impact of canine brucellosis from dogs imported illegally from the EU on the UK dog population; and what steps he is taking to help mitigate that impact.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government takes biosecurity seriously and has taken steps to mitigate the risk of Brucella canis. We made detection of Brucella canis in dogs reportable in April 2021. We have also published information for veterinary professionals and pet owners and have worked with stakeholders to disseminate advice and recommended actions to veterinary surgeons, rescue and rehoming organisations and dog breeding associations.

We continue to gather information on the disease risk posed by Brucella canis and will consider any further actions as appropriate.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent the illegal importation of puppies from EU countries.

Answered by Mark Spencer

The Government is committed to delivering our manifesto commitment to crack down on puppy smuggling. We plan to take forward legislative measures to tackle puppy smuggling as soon as parliamentary time allows.