Meetings

In light of the lack of recent contact from the petitioner, and the confirmation from the Minister that the Welsh Government will not be bringing forward new regulations or a Code of Practice during the remainder of this Senedd term, the Committee agreed to close the petition.

The Committee considered further correspondence and agreed to:

·         await a further update from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs on the timelines for developing a Code of Practice for Primates before considering further action; and

·         request a legal brief on what legislative power Wales has in this area.

The Committee considered further correspondence from the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs and from the petitioner, and agreed to write back to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to:

·         ask for an update on the timescales for developing a code of practice for primates kept as pets; and

·         express the Committee’s support for the calls to introduce a full ban on the keeping of primates as pets.

Janet Finch-Saunders declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

She has previously been involved in the pet trade.

The Committee considered further correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to ask when the process of updating existing animal welfare codes of practice, and the development of new codes of practice as required, will be complete.

The Committee agreed to write to the Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs to ask:

·         whether she considers that the divergence between licensing and the regulatory regime in Wales and England poses risks to animal welfare in Wales, particularly in relation to the exotic pet trade; and

·         whether she intends to consider the merits of adopting some or all of the various policy changes made in England by the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

Janet Finch Saunders declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

She has previously been involved with the pet trade.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Minister for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs and agreed to ask for a briefing on the differences between regulations on the sale of exotic pets in Wales and England.

The Committee considered comments from the petitioner and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs to ask:

·         for an update on the consideration given to developments in England and Scotland since her previous correspondence in February 2018;

·         that she provides a definitive position from the Welsh Government as to whether a ban on the trade of exotic pets would have merit at this time; and

·         for a list of what animals might be defined as exotic and therefore unsuitable to be kept as pets.

The Committee considered an update from the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs and agreed to await further comments from the petitioner before considering further action on the petition.

Members considered correspondence from RSPCA Cymru and agreed:

• to await the views of the petitioner on the information provided before considering further action on the petition; and
• once the Cabinet Secretary has considered the findings of a Scottish Government review of licensing and proposals for a new system in England, to consider whether they wish to take evidence on the issue.

Janet Finch- Saunders declared the following relevant interest under Standing Order 17.24A:

She is the owner of a Macaw.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs and the petitioner and agreed to write to RSPCA Cymru to obtain their views on the issues raised and on any progress made through their meetings with the Welsh Government in relation to this subject.

The Committee considered correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs and agreed to await the views of the petitioner on the information provided by the Cabinet Secretary before deciding what further action to take on the petition.

The Committee considered correspondence on the petition and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs to ask the specific questions proposed by the petitioner.

The Committee considered the petition for the first time and agreed to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs to raise the specific questions asked by the petitioner, and ask that the Committee is informed of the outcome of the discussion at the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group.