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<p>The Government continues to take positive action to protect the welfare of companion
animals – including domestic rabbits. The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities
Involving Animals) (England) Regulations, introduced in 2018, require anyone who is
in the business of selling rabbits as pets to obtain a valid licence from their local
authority. Licence holders must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which
are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse or revoke licences.
The 2018 Regulations are supported by statutory guidance which provides specific information
about the keeping of rabbits for sale:</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F936832%2Fselling-animals-as-pets.pdf&data=04%7C01%7CJosh.Day%40defra.gov.uk%7C3f40042e840d45142fca08d930e39051%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637594576196096625%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=roMPhF%2B9s5mfMloGHrhxGfmcSzMsot72s9l%2BzkOiVxg%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/936832/selling-animals-as-pets.pdf</a></p><p>
</p><p>Additional advice is available to help pet owners provide for the welfare needs
of their rabbit, including the British Rabbit Council’s Codes of Practice: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthebritishrabbitcouncil.org%2Fcodes-practice.php&data=04%7C01%7CJosh.Day%40defra.gov.uk%7C3f40042e840d45142fca08d930e39051%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637594576196106619%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=hcq7qWofxOcZikQ938A87zq8PIoyKjYROEUkMwir4vw%3D&reserved=0"
target="_blank">https://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/codes-practice.php</a></p><p>
</p><p>Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary
suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act
2021 was recently granted Royal Assent. This realises the Government’s manifesto commitment
to increase the sentences available to our courts for the most serious cases of animal
cruelty. It means that from 29 June 2021, anyone who is cruel to an animal (including
domestic rabbits) faces being sent to prison for up to five years, or receiving an
unlimited fine, or both.</p><p> </p><p>The Action Plan for Animal Welfare is an ambitious
plan which sets out an overview of the Government’s main priorities on animal welfare
and conservation, particularly those which require legislative action and reform.
It is not exhaustive of every animal welfare issue which the Government covers. While
the Action Plan does not refer explicitly to rabbit welfare, the Government cares
about rabbit welfare and my department continues to work closely with organisations
such as the Companion Animal Sector Council to monitor developments in welfare standards
for all domestic animals including rabbits. My department is also happy to engage
with rabbit welfare groups on an ongoing basis about their concerns.</p><p> </p>
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