We have responded to the private bill which calls for a reform of pet shop licensing in Scotland, proposed by MSP Jeremy Balfour.

We welcome the proposal to review pet shop licensing because, for many years, OATA has been calling for a common, coherent and consistent set of mandatory licensing standards for pet shops which are properly enforced by well-trained and knowledgeable local authority inspectors.

Much of what is being put forward in this review is to be welcomed but after our experiences with the reform of Animal Activities Licensing in England, due to come into force in October, we have some caution over how any Scottish review will be carried out and how far it will go.

Read our response here.

Businesses have until 18 June to send in their own response which you can do here.