To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to reduce the number of animals that one person can transport to the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered on
27 July 2018
Defra is concerned that the number of pet animals that one person is currently allowed to transport into the UK has the potential to facilitate the illegal puppy trade.
Whilst we remain a member of the EU, we continue to be signed up to the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme. After we leave we want pet owners to continue to be able to travel to and from the EU with the minimum of disruption whilst maintaining high biosecurity and welfare standards. The Government is negotiating our departure from the EU and Defra is looking at future arrangements, including those for pet travel. We are also putting in place contingency arrangements in the event of a no-deal outcome.
In 2017 the EU Commission consulted Member States on whether some Pet Travel Scheme rules should be amended. We stand by our response to that consultation in which we recommended lowering the maximum number of pets that are permitted to be moved in a single consignment. Looking to the future, leaving the EU will open up new opportunities for managing our pet travel arrangements, including ensuring there are robust controls on disease and animal welfare.