Government ‘twiddling thumbs’ over harsher sentences for puppy smugglers

The government is ‘twiddling thumbs’ over introducing adequate post-Brexit provisions for animal movement, says a report released this morning by the House of Commons environment, food and rural affairs committee.

Despite evidence of a ‘low-risk, high-reward’ trade in illegal pet and horse smuggling, prosecution rates remain low, with adverse effects on animal welfare and biosecurity. The committee, therefore, argues that the Government must act urgently to address pet and horse smuggling over the UK border.

With little to no enforcement of laws preventing the illegal importation of domestic animals, not only should Government introduce harsher sentences for pet smugglers, but it must also make full use of its enforcement powers, say the MPs.

Government inertia is also stalling measures to facilitate the movement of livestock, putting UK businesses at risk. The Report identifies an “effective ban” on the export of live animals to the EU for breeding, due to inadequate border controls, despite continued imports of livestock from the trading bloc, leaving the UK at a competitive disadvantage.

The Report argues that there are suitable ready solutions for many of the problems threatening exporters’ livelihoods, animal welfare and UK biosecurity, but the Government’s low-priority approach to implementation fails to recognise the significance of stakeholders’ concerns.

Echoing calls made by the cross-party group of MPs in April 2021, the committee urges the Government to adopt a ‘pragmatic’ approach in negotiations with the EU, ensuring that border controls are operational at both UK and EU borders no later than March 2022.

Neil Parish MP, Chair of the EFRA Select Committee, said: “While the Government twiddles its thumbs, bad actors are seizing the opportunity to bring animals- including kittens and puppies- over the borders, risking their welfare and the spread of diseases, with little fear of detection or punishment. Meanwhile, the systems required to identify equines, which already exist within the industry, have been overlooked, allowing an illegal and cruel trade in horse smuggling to flourish.

“Despite a drastically shrunk livestock export market, the Government is dragging its heels setting up the border controls that exporters of British breeding stock need. All of these issues identify glaring holes in the Government’s current systems.”