Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020

Review of requirements for additional animal welfare, animal health and wildlife offences

16 Review 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.