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Evidence heard on circus bill
Government publishes written evidence on draft bill

Following a draft bill aimed at banning the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in England, written evidence has been supplied by a range of organisations and individuals.

The draft bill was published by Defra on April 16, and will make it an offence for wild animals to be used in circuses for performance or exhibition from December 1, 2015.

Written evidence was published on the parliamentary website on May 28, and includes responses from the RSPCA, Captive Animal's Protection Society (CAPS) and the Born Free Foundation.

Whilst the legislation has been welcomed by animal welfare and conservation organisations, concerns have been raised by the fact that the bill does not specify that wild animals cannot travel with a circus.

If the bill goes through in England, this could permit wild animals to tour with a circus, but not perform or be exhibited. Therefore, circuses could transport animals to Wales or Scotland to perform.

The ongoing inquiry aims to scrutinise the draft bill in order to determine its effectiveness in banning the use of wild animals in circuses. 

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.