Written question WQ86535
- Asked by
- Peter FoxConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
What consideration has the Minister given to introducing a licensing scheme for professional pest controllers to use glue traps in exceptional circumstances in Wales, as introduced in England by the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd
The options and cost benefit analysis within the Explanatory Memorandum to the Agriculture (Wales) Bill provides further detail about the considerations given to a licensing system.
My primary concern is animal welfare and introducing a licensing system is not compatible with the high animal welfare standards we strive for here in Wales. Even in the hands of professional pest controllers, glue traps cannot be considered a humane method of capturing vertebrates. Adequate, efficient and more humane forms of pest control are available and in regular use in Wales.