Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has had recent discussions on the issue of internet pet sales with a variety of our stakeholders, including the Scottish SPCA, OneKind, Dog's Trust, the Kennel Club, Cats Protection and other members of the Pet Advertising Advisory Group.

It is clear from those discussions that there is a need for a better public understanding of the risks involved in purchasing pets online.

We strongly support the work of the Pet Advertising Advisory Group, in particular their minimum standards for online advertising of animals for sale that have recently been launched, and will continue to explore ways to help promote these standards to the public and to advertising websites.

Information on the importation of bumblebees into Scotland is not held centrally, however recent changes to recording systems may allow us to gather this information in the future.

All beekeepers, both commercial and hobbyists are encouraged to control and manage their bees effectively through having a good knowledge of biosecurity, hygiene and the ability to recognise disease.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information to answer this question precisely because data on salmon production and on exports are not on an equivalent basis, but we estimate that approximately four per cent of total Scottish farmed salmon production by weight is exported to China from the UK as fresh product and approximately 0.4% of total production by weight is exported to Japan from the UK as fresh product.

Of the total of all fresh Scottish salmon exported from the UK in 2012, 8 per cent of the total by value is to China and just over 1% is to Japan.

No particular provision is made as a foetus will die from lack of oxygen in the uterus without suffering after its mother is slaughtered. There is good evidence that ruminants do not have conscious awareness until after they are born and start breathing so there is no welfare impact experienced by a foetus when the mother is killed.

There is no legal restriction under animal welfare legislation on who may kill a dog using a captive bolt gun for any purpose. If used correctly, a captive bolt gun should result in immediate loss of consciousness. However, if a captive bolt gun is used in a way that causes suffering, this would be an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

There is no legal requirement for an operator to hold a slaughter licence or certificate of competence to kill a dog using a captive bolt gun.

However, if a captive bolt gun is used in a way that causes suffering this would be an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

There is no restriction on the slaughter of pregnant cattle or sheep in a slaughterhouse. However, cattle and sheep that are in the last 10% of their pregnancy are classed as unfit for transport under European legislation concerning the welfare of animals during transport.

There is no legal restriction on the circumstances under which a dog can be killed using a captive bolt gun or any legal requirement for bleeding or pithing, although this would be recommended.

If used correctly, a captive bolt gun should result in immediate loss of

consciousness. However if a captive bolt gun is used in a way that causes suffering, this would be an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006.

We have made sure that stakeholders have been made aware of the forthcoming changes through two articles in Scotland Rural University College (SRUC) Crop Protection reports (supported under the Scottish Government SRUC advisory activity), and through discussion in our Common Agricultural Policy stakeholder group and with the industry.

In Scotland the main implications of these restrictions will be for oilseed rape growers. Any crops sown before 1 December 2013 can be grown and harvested as normal. It will not be possible to sow any more seed treated with the three neonicotinoids named by the European Commission (imidacloprid, clothiandrin and thiametoxam) after 1 December 2013. We understand that the seed industry is already adapting to these new requirements.

An introductory meeting between representatives of the Scottish Government and NATO took place at NATO HQ in Brussels on 8 July 2013.