Government
Government policy plays a critical role in shaping the regulatory and commercial environment for the UK pet industry. Under this tag, Pet Gazette covers legislation, consultations, and regulatory updates affecting pet retailers, wholesalers, and distributors — from pet food labelling and animal welfare standards to licensing rules, trade regulations, and business rates. We also report on government-backed initiatives, support schemes, and local authority actions that influence retail operations or supply chain logistics. This tag keeps industry professionals informed about political and regulatory developments with direct implications for commercial petcare businesses.
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Jan- 2026 -6 JanuaryBusiness
Petgevity partners with Petscribers to help cut pet medication costs
Petgevity has partnered with Petscribers to give its policyholders access to tools designed to reduce the cost of pet prescription medication, as concerns continue to grow over affordability and transparency in the UK veterinary market. The insurer, which is part of the Staysure Group, stated that it is the first…
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2 JanuaryCharities
Birmingham Dogs Home appoints Dr Scott Miller as ambassador
Birmingham Dogs Home has appointed television vet and animal welfare campaigner Dr Scott Miller as a charity ambassador. Miller, who regularly appears on ITV’s This Morning, will work with the charity to raise awareness of its rehoming work, support education initiatives and strengthen community outreach across the West Midlands. The…
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Dec- 2025 -22 DecemberGovernment & Legislation
Defra unveils animal welfare reforms billed as biggest in a generation
The government is to launch a new Animal Welfare Strategy on 22 December, setting out a package of reforms aimed at improving protections for pets, farm animals and wildlife. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the strategy would introduce measures to end puppy farming, strengthen enforcement…
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Nov- 2025 -26 NovemberEconomy
BUDGET: Income tax bands frozen, minimum wage to increase, NI-exempt pension threshold scrapped
Income tax and NI thresholds will be frozen while the minimum wage will rise by 50p from April 2026, the chancellor Rachel Reeves said in her Autumn Budget statement today. Reeves announced a series of tax changes in other areas, including salary-sacrificed NI contributions on pensions, as part of measures…
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18 NovemberRegulation
New tool launched to counter ‘extreme conformation’ breeding crisis
A new tool designed to curb irresponsible dog breeding and reduce the prevalence of extreme physical traits has been launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare. The Innate Health Assessment tool – a free 10-point checklist – is intended to help breeders and owners assess a dog’s suitability…
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Oct- 2025 -17 OctoberRegulation
Gov reminds companies to submit annual list of small pet medicines
The government has announced that companies selling medicines for small pet animals under exemption from full authorisation must submit their annual product list to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 17 November 2025. The requirement applies to all firms marketing veterinary medicines covered by Schedule 6 of the Veterinary Medicines…
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Sep- 2025 -18 SeptemberTrade Organisations
Pet Industry Federation calls for consistency in animal licensing data
The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has published an analysis of animal licensing returns from local authorities in England, highlighting growth in home boarding and dog daycare alongside a decline in kennels, catteries and pet sales businesses. The report, covering 2023 to 2025, found that licence fees increased by an average…
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18 SeptemberEconomy
BoE holds interest rates at 4%
The Bank of England (BoE) has voted to hold interest rates steady at 4% amid concerns around the recent rise in inflation. At a meeting this week, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of 7–2 to maintain the rate, as two members voted to reduce it by…
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17 SeptemberManufacturers
Non-Stop Dogwear wins $4m deal to supply gear to Norwegian forces
The Norwegian Armed Forces has awarded Non-Stop Dogwear a $4m (£3.2m) contract to supply equipment for its K-9 division over the next four years. The deal will be delivered through the company’s Non-Stop professional division, which develops products for military, police, and search and rescue services. It includes the supply…
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Aug- 2025 -12 AugustRegulation
The Kennel Club urges Holyrood to deliver shock collar ban
The Kennel Club has expressed serious concern over delays from the Scottish Government in taking action towards banning electric shock collars. As part of the review of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020, the Scottish Government committed to undertaking a public consultation regarding the use…
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