Measures against Errant and Illegal Pet Sellers
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns measures against errant and illegal pet sellers and the recourse available to buyers, as raised by MP Edward Chia Bing Hui. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee stated that all pet sellers must be licensed under the Animals and Birds Act and are subject to regular NParks inspections. Penalties for operating without a licence or failing in duty of care include significant fines and imprisonment, while non-compliant sellers may face licence suspension or revocation. The public is encouraged to adopt pets or purchase only from licensed shops and report any suspected illegal activities to NParks for investigation. For consumer disputes, individuals may approach the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) to seek further assistance and recourse against errant pet sellers.
Transcript
61 Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Minister for National Development (a) what are the existing measures to act against errant and illegal pet sellers; and (b) what is the recourse for people purchasing such pets from these sellers.
Mr Desmond Lee: Under the Animals and Birds Act, all pet sellers must hold a valid licence in order to display or sell pets. This is to safeguard animal health and welfare.
The National Parks Board (NParks) conducts regular inspections to ensure that pet shops comply with licensing conditions. It also investigates reports of errant or illegal pet sellers, and takes the appropriate enforcement action against offenders.
Those who are found guilty of operating a pet shop without a licence may be fined up to $5,000, jailed for up to six months, or both. Pet sellers who breach their licensing conditions may also have their licences suspended or revoked. Those found to have failed in their duty of care towards the animals under their charge can also be fined up to $40,000, jailed for up to two years, or both, on their first conviction under the Animals and Birds Act.
NParks strongly encourages prospective pet owners to adopt their pets from animal welfare groups or purchase them from licensed pet shops. Should the public encounter any errant or illegal pet sellers, they should report them to NParks immediately for investigation. Individuals who face disputes with pet sellers may also approach the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) to assist them in seeking further recourse.