Written questions by Carling.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has sought equivalent provisions in the UK-EU SPS Agreement negotiations to the animal welfare carve-out provisions contained in Article 7 of the EU-Switzerland Common Food Safety Area Protocol agreed in 2025.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on May 19, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. The EU has accepted there will need to be a number of areas where the UK needs to retain our own rules. Negotiations with the EU on the SPS agreement are underway and Defra cannot provide an ongoing commentary on these discussions, but the Government is clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to prevent imports of animals with harmful mutilations.

The Government recently announced its support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Dr Danny Chambers MP. The Bill will give the Government powers to prevent the supply of low-welfare pets to Great Britain’s pet market. We will use these powers to prohibit the bringing into Great Britain of dogs and cats with non-exempted mutilations such as cropping ears, docking tails and declawing. We are fully supportive of this Bill and would like to see it pass through both Houses as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent the breeding of (a) cats and (b) dogs with exaggerated characteristics.

Under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018, licensed dog breeders and pet sellers, who breed and sell puppies and kittens, must meet and maintain strict license conditions designed to protect their animals from pain, suffering, injury and illness. Licensed dog breeders are prohibited from breeding dogs if it can be reasonably expected that on the basis of their genotype, phenotype or health, this would lead to welfare problems for the mother or the puppies. Defra provides a national communications campaign (Petfished) to help consumers to make well-informed choices. The campaign’s step-by-step guide on buying a dog includes a reminder to ensure that the dog’s physical features have minimal adverse impacts on their physical well-being and welfare.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle irresponsible pet ownership.

Defra is working hand in hand with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to encourage responsible dog ownership, make sure dog control issues are addressed before they escalate and that the full force of the law is applied.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure egg-based products imported into the UK are from hens kept to welfare standards equivalent to those required in the UK.

The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare. The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of importing food produced to lower animal welfare standards than those required domestically on the UK farming sector.

The Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare. The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.