Pet sales

There will be new regulations on pet vending.  At present, we are considering making the following changes. These will, of course, be subject to public consultation and Parliamentary approval.

• • Pet shops should continue to be licensed with renewal every three years rather than annually, with inspections on a risk managed basis.

• • Local Authorities will issue licences and will have powers to inspect, and to withhold or revoke licences.

• • Businesses that use internet sites for selling should be licensed in the same way as conventional pet shops.

• • Pet shops and commercial premises where animals are kept prior to sale will be subject to a code of practice, approved by Parliament and enforced by the Local Authority.

• • A member of the management of a pet shop or animal internet selling site should have a suitable animal welfare qualification (for new entrants only).

• Written advice addressing the welfare needs of the animal being sold will be made available to buyers at pet shops and on internet selling sites.

Pet fairs

There is some confusion over the interpretation of existing law about the licensing of pet fairs. In addition, some people have concerns about welfare standards at these events.

Because of these two factors, the governments is proposing to modernise the law by prohibiting the sale of animals, where this is part of a business, to members of the public at pet fairs.

However, we also propose to make exceptions to this prohibition in the case of koi carp shows, racing pigeon sales and poultry sales.  These types of events will be licensed by local authorities under regulations to be made under the Animal Welfare Act.

Those events where there is either no selling of animals to members of the public; or where there is selling of animals but where it is not in the course of a business, such as hobbyists selling excess stock, will continue to take place without the requirement to be licensed.

We believe that the revised proposals on pet fairs together with the proposals to raise the standards of pet vending generally, as well as the introduction of the welfare offence for companion animals, provide the best protection yet for animals at pet fairs.