CHAPTER 1Animal welfare, animal health and wildlife: offences and penalties
Review of requirements for additional animal welfare, animal health and wildlife offences
16Review of requirements for additional animal welfare, animal health and wildlife offences
1
The Scottish Ministers must conduct a review of whether the provisions of this Act are sufficient to ensure appropriate standards of animal welfare, animal health and protection of wildlife.
2
Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the review must in particular consider whether provision should be made—
a
for a specific offence of theft of a pet,
b
to prohibit the attaching, or causing or permitting the attaching, to a dog or other animal of a collar or other wearable device designed to administer an electric shock,
c
about the appropriate penalties to be available for any such offences.
3
The review must be completed as soon as practicable and no later than 1 April 2025.
4
On completing the review, the Scottish Ministers must—
a
lay a report on the review before the Scottish Parliament,
b
publish the report in such manner as they consider appropriate.
5
The report under subsection (4) must include a statement of—
a
the action, if any, the Scottish Ministers intend to take as a result of the review,
b
where the Scottish Ministers do not intend to take steps to make provision for the matters in paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2), their reasons for this.