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Latest News - Welfare regulations passed by government
10/02/2010
The Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations were debated and passed by delegated legislation committees of both the House of Commons and House of Lords yesterday. The path is now clear for the regulations to come into force on April 5th.
In the Commons, Defra Minister Jim Fitzpatrick opened proceedings by explaining that the regulations had been drawn up to “create minimum welfare standards for all greyhound tracks in England, without imposing disproportionate burdens on an industry that is already subject to the high standards required by the Animal Welfare Act.”
He confirmed that tracks not licensed by a UKAS-accredited GBGB would need to be licensed and inspected against the new welfare standards by their local authority but dismissed calls from opposition parties and some welfare groups for the regulations to be extended to cover trainers’ kennels and breeders’ premises.
The requirement for all greyhounds to be microchipped, earmarked and registered before their first trial or race on an independent or GBGB track was well supported, including by Conservative Shadow Minister Richard Benyon who indicated that his party “would like to see microchipping spread more widely across the dog world”. He encouraged the House to “act swiftly to ensure that coherent welfare standards are established, that racing greyhounds are protected and that the integrity of this excellent sport, which is enjoyed by many thousands of people, is maintained”.
Later in the day in the Grand Committee in the House of Lords, All Party Parliamentary Greyhound Group Joint Chairman Lord Bilston was joined by Lord Donoughue, author of the recent “Independent Review of the Greyhound Industry in Great Britain” and greyhound racing enthusiast Lord Oakeshott in praising the progress made by the sport to advance welfare standards in recent years. Lord Davies for the Government concluded the day’s proceedings by advising that those that go greyhound racing “will be looking at dogs that are inherently healthy and well cared for”.
GBGB Welfare Manager Peter Laurie commented:
“The regulations were passed as expected and with cross-party support. Our focus now turns to ensuring the sport is fully compliant ahead of the 5th April deadline.
“We have already made good progress with microchipping and, following Government confirmation, will now be amending the rules relating to international entries since it is clear that they will not be exempt under these regulations.
“Some modifications will need to be made to some track kennel and veterinary facilities in the coming weeks and of course securing UKAS accreditation remains a very high priority. But taken as a whole, it is pleasing that the first legislation specific to greyhound welfare in the sport’s long history will not impose disproportionate costs or disruption to GBGB racing.”
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