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| PET GAZETTE | TRADE TALK
PIF REACTS TO LUCY’S LAW VICTORY
The association expressed fears that a ban implemented before the new Animal Activities
Licensing regulations would ‘push sales underground’
The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has issued
an official statement in response to the
government’s announcement to hold a
consultation on the banning of third party
puppy and kitten sales in England.
The trade association said it has “no
retailer members [which sold] puppies”. It
added that according to a recent Freedom of
Information survey, there are around 3,000
pet shop licences in the UK. Of these, about
80 are licensed to sell puppies, with 30 being
traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ retail premises.
PIF said: “New Animal Activities Licensing
regulations (AAL), which cover dog breeding
and pet vending, will raise the bar on
businesses which are involved in these
activities. We feel that these enhanced
conditions (which will come into force
later in 2018) will go a long way towards
overcoming many of the welfare issues that
a ban on third party puppy and kitten sales
would seek to resolve.
“The demand for puppies in the UK
(estimated at about 800,000 per year)
outstrips the supply. With Kennel Club
registrations only accounting for about
227,000 puppies (2016 figures) and an
estimated 350,000 coming from UK home
breeders, there is a gap of circa 223,000
puppies which need to be sourced from
elsewhere.”
The association went on to say it was
“concerned” that if an outright ban on third
party sales was brought in without allowing
the new AAL regulations to be established
and the demand for puppies remained
high, it would “potentially lead to sales going
underground and prevent the opportunity
to put the new regulations and enforcement
into these vendors to ensure that the welfare
of the animals remains paramount.”
The new AAL regulations will come into
force from 1 October 2018.
The association concluded: “PIF’s view is
that whilst supporting the principle of a ban,
there may be an advantage in allowing
AAL to bed in and then to evaluate how
a ban can be successfully implemented.
In addition, education is required to
discourage people from impulse buying,
and to buy from responsible breeders where
welfare is paramount.”
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www.petgazette.biz
September 2018