We’re sure that you welcome, as we do, the Government’s proposal to ban commercial pet selling at pet fairs in the Animal Welfare Bill (please see below statement from DEFRA).
It is absolutely critical that DEFRA appreciates the wide support that this latest commitment has already attracted and, in its present form, will continue to enjoy.
Please, therefore, send a positive message to Animal Welfare Minister, Ben Bradshaw (see sample letter below). You can write to him at:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, or email: Bradshawbp@parliament.uk
Praise the Government for introducing this new measure on pet fairs and please emphasise that you will take a 'close and ongoing' interest in the issue of pet fairs at secondary legislation stage to welcome the new ban on commercial pet selling into law.
Should you be able to copy your letter to us for our files then that would be great!
With many thanks
Elaine Toland MRSH
Director
Animal Protection Agency
Brighton Media Centre
15-17 Middle Street
Brighton
BN1 1AL
________________________
Tel: 01273 674253
Fax: 01273 674927
www.apa.org.uk
************************
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * S A M P L E L E T T E R * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Mr Bradshaw
I was delighted to learn of the Government’s new proposal to ban the commercial selling of pet animals at fairs in the Animal Welfare Bill.
This positive new measure, which properly and specifically targets the activities of profit-driven pet dealers, will act as a vital safeguard against animal mistreatment and neglect. Sensitive exotic animals with specialised care needs will now be spared the terrible suffering involved in being transported around the country from one venue to another until they are either sold or dead.
I will continue to follow the progress of the Animal Welfare Bill and look forward to seeing DEFRA’s pet fair proposal pass into law. Thank you for the time and attention you have given to this particular issue and for your sound judgement that has brought about this welcome development.
Yours sincerely
GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO REGULATE PET FAIRS
New measures to stop the commercial sale of animals at pet fairs will be introduced under the Animal Welfare Bill, Defra announced today.
Following a judicial ruling on pet fairs, the Government has decided to review its plans to regulate these events.
While commercial sales of animals will be banned, there will be exemptions in the cases of koi carp, racing pigeons and poultry. These will need to be licensed by the local authority.
As before, pet fairs that do not involve the sale of animals, or that do involve the sale of animals but not in the course of a business, can continue without the need for a licence.
Ben Bradshaw, Minister for Animal Health and Welfare, said: “I believe that the revised measures on pet fairs, together with our proposals to raise the standards of pet vending generally and the introduction of the welfare offence for companion animals, provide the best protection yet for animals at pet fairs.”
The new proposals on pet fairs will be issued for full consultation before they go before Parliament.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The regulation of pet fairs will be made through secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Bill, currently before Parliament. If the Bill receives Royal Assent before the end of this Parliamentary session it will begin to be brought into force from April 2007.
2. Clause 13 of the Animal Welfare Bill allows regulations to be made to regulate animal related activities for purposes of welfare.
3. The Government’s original proposal, published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment that accompanies the AW Bill, was to regulate all pet fairs that involved the commercial sale of animals.
4. The Government reviewed its proposal in the light of a Judicial Review judgement made on 14 June 2006 in the case of Haynes v. Stafford Borough Council which ruled that, under existing legislation relating to the sale of pet animals (the Pet Animals Act 1951), local authorities could not issue licences to organisers of pet fairs, that come within the description contained in section 2 of the 1951 Act.
Press enquiries 020 7238 6027 ;Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website
www.defra.gov.uk
Defra’s aim is sustainable development