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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Dec- 2020 -9 DecemberCharities
Third of people willing to ignore puppy smuggling, study warns
Almost a third of puppy purchasers would be willing to “turn a blind eye” to the smuggling trade to get the dog they want, a report by Dogs Trust has found. According to consumer research conducted by the charity 30% of people have admitted that they would be willing to…
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9 DecemberFeatures
Pet food, animal welfare, and the Agriculture Bill
In 2018, PFMA launched its Pet Food Vision. The vision was developed following the EU referendum when as representatives of the UK pet food industry we considered where we wanted to be as a global player following the UK’s exit from the EU. The PFMA Pet Food Vision focused on…
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Nov- 2020 -26 NovemberCoronavirus
New Tier system announced
The Government has announced a new Tier system for when England leaves lockdown on 2 December, with only areas in Tier 1 allowed to revert back to the ‘rule of six’. Making the announcement to the House of Commons, health secretary Matt Hancock revealed that the new Tier 3 restrictions…
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9 NovemberCoronavirus
PIF issues guidance on pet grooming and welfare
The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has stated that it believes professional pet grooming is “essential” for a pet’s health and welfare, providing many health benefits which may “not be immediately obvious”. It comes as the Government website has been updated to include a reference to pet grooming during the second…
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Oct- 2020 -22 OctoberCharities
Third of public don’t research before buying dogs, warns charity
Over a third of puppy owners (34%) fail to do any research before buying their dog, according to Dog Trust’s ‘Choosing My Dog’ study. The charity’s findings suggest that dog owners are vulnerable to being scammed by smugglers, who are illegally importing puppies into the country under dire conditions. Dogs…
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21 OctoberRetailers
Retailers pay £1.1bn to accept customer payments
The cost to retailers of accepting payments reached £1.1bn in 2019, of which £950m was from card payments. It comes as the BRC launched its latest Payment Survey, that reveals card use has continued to rise steadily, from 54% of transactions in 2016 to 61% in 2019. This trend has…
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19 OctoberCoronavirus
Wales announces ‘firebreak’ lockdown
The Welsh government has announced a two-week “firebreak” national lockdown, which will force business closures across the country from 23 October at 6pm until Monday 9 November. According to BBC News, first minister Mark Drakeford said the “time-limited firebreak” will be “a short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock,…
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19 OctoberGovernment & Legislation
MPs set to debate pet theft petitions
MPs are preparing to debate the growing issue of pet theft later today (19 October), after the success of three national petitions. The debate will be led by Tom Hunt MP, member of the Petitions Committee, and MPs from all parties are set to take part. In September, a petition…
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Sep- 2020 -21 SeptemberCoronavirus
Government launches £95m recovery fund for high street
A new £95m government-funded scheme will support 68 “historic” high streets in England to recover from “declining footfall” and the impact of the pandemic. The initiative, High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), will work with local authorities to convert disused buildings into new shops, workplaces and community spaces. HSHAZ will…
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18 SeptemberRetailing
Mayor of London urges government to extend business rates holiday
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and London Councils have joined together to urge the Government to extend the business rates holiday and help protect thousands of jobs in London and across the country. Businesses in the retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare sectors are currently benefiting from 100% relief from…
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