To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, why has he withdrawn the Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) England Regulations 2023.
Answered on
15 February 2024
The draft Regulations were laid before Parliament in April 2023 and specified a coming into force date of 1 February 2024. The Government’s intention was to allow pet owners who use these devices sufficient time to prepare, by retraining their dogs or cats using alternative training methods.
Pressing ahead with the Regulations at the start of this year would have left an unacceptably short window for pet owners to adapt their training methods.
The Government remains committed to introducing a ban on the use of e-collars. We will pursue new regulations to deliver this commitment on a timeline that is suitable for owners.