A number of constituents have raised concerns with me regarding live exports, the keeping of primates as pets and puppy smuggling.
The UK has a long history of leading the way on animal welfare. I am pleased that now we have left the EU, the Government is committed to improving our already world-leading standards by delivering a series of ambitious reforms, outlined in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare. Building on the Action Plan, the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill will bring in some of the world’s highest and strongest protections for pets, livestock and kept wild animals.
I understand that live animals can endure excessively long journeys during export, causing distress and injury. EU rules prevented any changes to these journeys, but the UK Government is now free to pursue plans which would see a ban on the export of live animals for slaughter and fattening. This Bill will ensure that the UK is the first European country to end this practice.
I am working closely with Ministers regarding the option of a mobile abattoir for the Isle of Wight, thus reducing the need for livestock being transported long distances.
Concerns have been raised about Primates being kept as pets. Primates are highly intelligent wild animals with complicated welfare needs, and require open spaces, varied diets, social contact and plenty of warmth and light. A recent call for evidence found that these complex needs cannot be met in a home environment. I believe that we must therefore take action to prevent the suffering caused to these creatures. Ministers have now confirmed that they will legislate to prohibit primates as pets. I am aware that keepers who are able to provide welfare standards akin to those of licensed zoos will be able to keep their primates under a new licensing regime, subject to conditions and inspections. Ownership of these exotic animals with complex needs will be phased out for keepers unable to meet these standards. Further, Ministers will place a ban on the sale, or otherwise transferring of primates apart from to persons holding a relevant licence. I understand that a relevant licence would include a Zoo licence, an Animals (Scientific Procedures) licence and a new ‘specialist private primate keeper’ licence. It is welcome that the new prohibitions and licensing regime is being introduced through legislation in the Kept Animals Bill.
I want to reassure constituents that I take the issue of illegal dog and puppy imports very seriously. This abhorrent trade causes suffering to the smuggled dogs and puts health at risk. To tackle the unethical trade of puppy smuggling, the Bill will reduce the number of pets that can travel under pet travel rules. It will also include powers for the Government to bring in further restrictions on the movement of pets on welfare grounds, for example by increasing the minimum age of imported puppies and restricting the import of pregnant dogs and dogs with mutilations such as cropped ears and tails.
I agree that cropping dogs’ ears is abhorrent and I am therefore pleased that the practice is banned in England. In the UK it is an offence to carry out a non-exempted mutilation under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It is welcome that anyone found to be illegally cropping a dog's ears may be banned from owning animals, face an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up 6 months, or both.
I am assured that all pet animals entering Great Britain on approved routes undergo documentary and identity checks. The checks are performed by ferry, train or airline carriers or agents acting on their behalf. The Animal and Plant Health Agency also undertakes random checks of the pet animals travelling to ensure the carriers are performing their duties to the required standard. Further, the Animal and Plant Health Agency works with Border Force and other operational partners at ports, airports and inland, sharing intelligence to enforce the Pet Travel Scheme, disrupt illegal imports and seize non-compliant animals.
