Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the oral statement by the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries on 25 May 2023, Official Report, columns 494 and 495, when she plans to bring forward (a) proposals to raise the age of import of brachycephalic dogs, (b) proposals to limit the import of pregnant bitches and (c) other proposals to stop the illegal importation of brachycephalic dogs.
Answer
It is not illegal to import brachycephalic dogs into Great Britain.
We plan to take forward measures in the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill individually through other means during the remainder of this Parliament. That is why we would be supportive of legislating to ban puppies under six months (including brachycephalic dogs) and heavily pregnancy dogs as a single-issue Bill when Parliamentary time allows.
In August 2021, we consulted on proposed changes to the rules governing the commercial and non-commercial movement of cats, dogs and ferrets into Great Britain.
We are carefully reviewing the feedback from our consultation and wider engagement with stakeholders, and a summary will be published in due course.