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Pet Travel Scheme

Question for Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

UIN 165551, tabled on 18 July 2018

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will introduce specific requirements to ensure the welfare of dogs and cats transported to the UK under the Pets Transport Scheme after the UK leaves the EU.

Answered on

27 July 2018

There is a general existing requirement under the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order (2006) that protects all animals during transport. This regulation makes it an offence to cause or be likely to cause injury or unnecessary suffering during transport.

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.