Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Introduce mandatory registration & licensing of anyone who breeds/sells animals

Closed 47 signatures

What the petition asks

I would like the Government to create a mandatory system of registration and licensing for all people who breed and sell animals, and a centralised database of all licensed breeders/sellers (including sellers on social media), for transparency and to help with enforcement.
The high demand for pets is not met in full by licensed breeders, leading many people to search elsewhere. Estimates suggest that 88% of puppies born in Britain are from unlicensed breeders, and tens of thousands are imported from the EU to meet demand. They are often separated from their mothers early, or kept in poor conditions, which can cause long-term suffering.

I believe that introducing mandatory registration and licensing will be an effective way to improve animal welfare, as it would lead to more visibility & traceability of the sellers/breeders, making it easier to ensure the welfare of animals and consumers is protected.

Timeline

7 Apr 2022 Petition opened for signatures
21 Oct 2022 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 47
Status Closed
Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened 7 Apr 2022
Closed 21 Oct 2022

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.