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- 2018 -2 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
PetQuip secures government funding for exhibitions
The PetQuip export association has been successful in the Government’s latest Tradeshow Access Programme bidding round in securing cash grants for three major international pet product trade exhibitions in 2018-19. The funding is available to eligible SMEs under the DIT’s Tradeshow Access Programme and will enable British companies to exhibit…
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2 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
Vets commend legislation to stop unscrupulous breeders
The Government has announced (22 December) that legislation to crack down on unscrupulous breeders and illegal puppy smuggling could be introduced in early 2018. The proposals under consideration include compulsory licensing for anyone breeding and selling dogs, ensuring that licensed dog breeders show puppies alongside their mother before a sale is…
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Dec- 2017 -20 DecemberCurrent Affairs
Retail sales rise in the build up to Christmas
Retail sales have risen in the year to December, according to the latest monthly CBI Distributive Trades Survey. The survey of 109 firms, of which 56 were retailers, showed that in the year to December, retail sales and orders continued to rise, although both disappointed expectations of somewhat stronger growth. Overall, sales…
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14 DecemberCurrent Affairs
Antifreeze warning given to motorists
Pet owners are being warned about the deadly nature of antifreeze this winter, as motorists prepare their cars ahead of the inevitable colder weather. Vets often see a significant increase in the number of pets, particularly cats, falling victim to antifreeze poisonings in the winter. This year Cats Protection has…
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12 DecemberCurrent Affairs
Government drafts Bill on animal sentience
Responding to the campaign to enshrine Article 13 of the Lisbon Treaty into UK law, the Government has today (12 December) published a draft Bill, which sets out that the government “must have regard to the welfare needs of animals as sentient beings in formulating and implementing government policy”. The…
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Nov- 2017 -27 NovemberFeatures
How safe is your job?
Despite a three percent drop in employment, Pet Gazette discovers that the retail sector is still going strong “The pace of job reductions in the retail industry is gathering steam,” says British Retail Consortium (BRC) chief executive Helen Dickinson OBE. In October, the BRC reported a record reduction in retail…
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24 NovemberCurrent Affairs
‘Animal sentience will be recognised’, promises Gove
Michael Gove has confirmed that the sentience of animals will continue to be recognised and protected when we leave the EU. The environment secretary released a statement following a viral campaign which stated Conservative MPs had voted that animals didn’t have the ability to feel or show emotion. Gove issued a…
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22 NovemberCurrent Affairs
Petition to reverse the exclusion of animal sentience reaches 178,000
A petition to reverse the UK Government’s decided to exclude the status of animals as sentient beings in the EU withdrawal bill has reached 178,000. MPs rejected the clause to recognise animals as sentient, a provision covered by EU law. As part of the EU withdrawal bill Green MP Caroline Lucas submitted the…
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20 NovemberCurrent Affairs
Risk of animal welfare slipping in UK, claims charity
Charity, the Dogs Trust has warned that there is a real risk of animal welfare laws slipping in the UK as MPs voted not to include animal sentience in the EU Withdrawal Bill on Wednesday evening. The charity states that ‘this is a huge blow for animal welfare as this…
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17 NovemberCurrent Affairs
Rejection of Brexit bill clause ‘concerning’, says BVA
MPs have voted to reject the inclusion of a crucial clause that would transfer the recognition of animal sentience into UK law post Brexit in an eight-hour parliamentary debate on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (15 November). Green MP Caroline Lucas submitted an amendment clause (NC30), which sought to transfer the EU…
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