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Written question asked by Juliet Campbell (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 2 July 2026. It was answered by Stephen Morgan (Labour) on Friday, 3 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dangerous Dogs: Insurance

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the evidence base was for requiring third-party liability insurance for banned breeds, and what will be the impact of removing the requirement.

Answer

Insurance formed part of the safeguards attached to Certificates of Exemption, providing financial protection for dog owners in the event of an incident. No alternative third-party public liability insurance product is currently available for banned breed dogs following the withdrawal of the only provider. This was a commercial decision. The requirement has therefore been removed from 1 July 2026, to ensure otherwise compliant owners are not placed in breach of the law through no fault of their own.

Owners of exempted dogs must continue to meet all other conditions of their Certificate of Exemption, including keeping dogs muzzled and on a lead in public places, and remain legally responsible for any harm caused by their dogs.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
14470
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Insurance Dangerous dogs
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk