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<p>HM Government published its wide-reaching and ambitious Action Plan for Animal
Welfare on 12 May 2021, setting out current and future work on animal welfare. Now
that we have left the EU, we are making significant changes to domestic law through
the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, bringing in legislation to further protect
the welfare of pets, farmed and kept wild animals in Great Britain.</p><p>The Kept
Animals Bill was reintroduced to the House of Commons in May 2022 and will progress
to Report stage as soon as parliamentary time allows. The Bill allows us further to
protect the welfare of pets by introducing restrictions to crack down on the low welfare
movements of pets into Great Britain and includes powers to introduce new restrictions
on pet travel and the commercial import of pets on welfare grounds, via secondary
legislation. We recognise there is strong support for the Bill from all sides of the
House and we have been actively working with hon. Members, Peers and our partners
to make sure that the reforms work effectively.</p><p>We already operate one of the
most rigorous and robust pet travel checking regimes in Europe. All non-commercial
dogs, cats and ferrets entering Great Britain on approved routes (every route other
than Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies) under the Pet
Travel rules undergo 100% documentary and identity checks by authorised pet checkers.</p><p>The
Animal and Plant Health Agency works collaboratively with Border Force and other operational
partners at ports, airports and inland, sharing intelligence to enforce the Pet Travel
rules, disrupt illegal imports, safeguard the welfare of animals and seize non-compliant
animals.</p><p>We have no plans to introduce further visual checks.</p>
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