In This Issue
Pets at Home produces rap-themed video to advertise flea treatment
Pet product wholesaler Bestpets launches new app
Bring Your Dog To Work Day 21st June – top pet care brands taking part in Britain’s best day out for dogs
Tips for a ‘barking’ Bring Your Dog To Work Day
Webbox undertakes major rebrand
Classic car rally calls in at Inspired Pet Nutrition
Wilsons Pet Food add Working Dog range to successful brand of Cold Pressed Dog Food
Collarways brings top American products to UK
International buyers lap up Cath Kidston pet range
HiLife unveils new packaging for natural pet food range
OATA joins Westminster committee inquiry to talk about invasive species
Collared Creatures launches 'on trend' Harris Tweed collars
Get your own copy of Pet Trade Xtra
Pet shop owner left devastated after theft of more than 20 snakes
Former sales director takes over as general manager of Mars Petcare UK
Managing Director of Poppy’s Picnic appointed Vice Chair of the PFMA Communications Committee
Chuckit! unveils the innovative FetchFlight
Oscar & Hooch celebrates 10th anniversary of Medical Detection Dog Charity
Hill's Pet Nutrition introduces Stews to Prescription Diet range
The best of the previous Pet Trade Xtra
Internet and changing shopping habits blamed for pet shop closure
Jollyes set to open new pet superstore
Yorkshire pet business launches UK first meaty birthday cake mix for dogs
Wilsons Pet Food appoints Dan Griffin as Head of Sales
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OATA joins Westminster committee inquiry to talk about invasive species

 

OATA joined fellow trade associations and other experts this week during a special outreach hearing held in Cambridge by the Environmental Audit Committee as part of its inquiry into the impacts of invasive species and their management.

 

Assistant Chief Executive Dr Tracey King spoke on behalf of the ornamental aquatic industry, explaining how the trade sees its role and responsibilities with regard to the movement of a range of non-native species, from fish to plants, across the globe and into the UK. 

 

During two evidence gathering panels the committee of cross-party MPs questioned researchers from the Biosecurity Research Initiative at St Catharine’s, where the event was held, as well as practitioners, NGOs, border authorities and trade associations. In a departure from usual parliamentary procedure the hearing was held away from Westminster and was opened to the public to attend.

 

During her questioning by MPs, Tracey’s main points included explaining the main pathways for ornamental species to enter the UK, outlining the checks and balances that legal trade must go through and highlighting the lack of scrutiny of online/e-commerce sales.

 

She also pointed out the lack of a central portal for people to find out about banned species. She also raised examples of best practice in New Zealand and Holland which the committee might be interested in and highlighted the lack of direct engagement with the industry when it came to horizon scanning by the government for issues.

 

“Taking part in these kinds of inquiries, by putting in written submissions and attending hearings like this one, are really important because we hope that MPs want a fully rounded picture of what is happening with non-native species and the work our industry is doing to highlight the 'no release' and be plant wise messages to customers,” said Tracey.

 

The Committee will use the sessions to inform a major report with recommendations to Government, due to be published this autumn.

 

The session can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0waB8awwqA (Panel 2 starts at 1hr 42) or a transcript will appear on the EAC’s inquiry page on Friday https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/invasive-species-17-19/

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