Due to the concerns expressed by Parliament during the debates on the Animal Welfare Bill about the welfare of racing greyhounds, the government has promised to improve the regulation of the greyhound racing industry. New arrangements should be in place by 2009 and will provide further protection for racing greyhounds.
Defra has set up a Greyhound Welfare Working Group to examine the issue of greyhound welfare. Members of the group include representatives of welfare organisations, the racing industry, local authorities, the devolved administrations and Defra.
The group has been asked to offer advice to Ministers and officials as to how best to regulate the industry and in the drafting of a code of practice to improve greyhound welfare. In addition we are waiting for the outcome of the All Party Group on Animal Welfare (APGAW) inquiry into the welfare of racing greyhounds and the inquiry by Lord Donoughue into the way that the industry regulates welfare standards.
Our present preference is that whenever possible the welfare standards should be enforced by the industry. However, the standards would be set by central government, and the effectiveness of the enforcers would also be monitored by central government.
Before recommending such a system to Parliament the Government first needs to be convinced that the industry is capable of being an open and auditable regulator of its own affairs. The Animal Welfare Minister, Ben Bradshaw, has met with the industry and made it clear to them that the industry must demonstrate that it has adopted a modern, open and auditable approach to the regulation of welfare standards. This includes addressing concerns about the need for greater commitment in terms of its resources to the promotion of welfare.
Page last modified:
June 2, 2008
Page published: April 2nd, 2007