It was said upon me, not long back to 'have a look at industry', instead of focusing on the hobbiest.

Now PKL are in fact looking at both, well in reality more than that.

However, who is the voice for the reptile trader in the UK?

I was under the impression that REPTA looked out not just for the supplier but also the retailer, is this not the case?

I was told only this evening, that many retailers [shops] were not aware of the changes in the DWAL nor for that matter the EPS.

It has been said that the latter new legislation is down to DEFRA, and this is not entirely true, however, who does the reptile retailer listen to when it comes to matters of legislation and so on, but more importantly, who informs them of any new changes?

Who does REPTA look out for in addition to the suppliers?

Cheers

Rory Matier
Pro Keepers Lobby

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Easy - no one tells us...

well, i would have thought that since local councils administer the pet shop licence, and they have the duty to inspect and ensure all is above board and legal, then It should be them who are responsible for feeding this info down the chain.

Of course, it goes with out saying that the local licencing officers proberbly know less then the retailer about these changes, but i could be wrong!

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I have said maybe half a dozen times over the last month in various threads, that no information has been given out to retailers regarding the EPS. All of the shop owners I have spoken to have no idea what it is. Given that they don't know what it is, they for the most part will have no intention of doing extra paperwork or stopping selling certain animals because of some law that they have not been informed about.

Very few know of any changes to the AWA and even fewer will make any changes because of it. Most refuse to believe that it could be considered under the AWA a breach of the act to sell animals without caresheets for example.

My local council is not aware of any changes at the moment which will effect me as a retailer. As a retailer, I have never been contacted by, or have any information from, or regarding REPTA and as such, they certainly don't seem to be looking out for me.

Retailers have to look out for themselves. There is no one there to help them. Councils usually do not want to help above and beyond their borderline inspection duties. There is no organisation I can see that is actively keeping reptile shops informed. As far as I'm aware, there is no database of reptile shops to be informed in the first place. Each county holds a list of shops with pet shops - which ones are exotics won't even be marked.

Some retailers stick together - there are half a dozen shops locally who are very supportive, we get together, we talk, we visit each others shops, we comment, we discuss what might or might not effect us. But not all shops are friendly, some see the other shops just as competition, and fail to see above the petty profit orientated picture.

Everyone is worried about who is there for the reptiles, who is there for the customers, but anyone who actually works in the trade knows that no one is there for the retailer

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We do seem to be in an odd situation currently, with even the biggest of reptile shops/dealers flouting the law, a law they don't, for the most part, know about and a law that doesn't seem to be getting enfforced in any way...currently.


Mason

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Our Collection

I know about the AWA, DWA, EPS and the lack of knowledge to the retailers. It was really trying to figure out if retail was involved in any way shape or form with REPTA.

As far as l can figure out, REPTA is only there for the suppliers to the retailers.

As to who the Pet Care Trust is there for, l am still none the wiser.

Last night l was referred to as a drama queen, because l was annoyed at the fact that retailers were not being informed of anything by anyone.

PKL campaigns are stating that the key to landbased success is down to the retailers and l am alarmed and concerned that no body is talking to them from anywhere. So little wonder they view the market with confusion!

It was as said [this thread] to basically try and grasp how the retailers found out about changes in legislation and if REPTA actually did anything to support retailers as l originally thought they did.

Now l see, that retailers stand alone, and this is not acceptable and needs to be addressed.

R
PKL

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Question to Ally and Christy... and any other shop owners/managers who read these forums...

Who do you feel SHOULD be the ones telling you these things ?

The hobby - Meaning FBH/FOCAS/REPTA ?

The trade who supply animals and products ?

The local council who issue the licences ?

DEFRA or those making the laws ?

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.............if:

The Society is there for the Keeper

&

The Federation is there for the Society


& Why?


Is REPTA : Reptile and Exotic Pet Trade Association

Not known by the retailer?

Retailers are trade, are they not?

I am trying to figure out why the shop front do not know about REPTA?

R

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Any time I have mentioned REPTA to my local shop, who does get stuff in from the larger suppliers, he has never heard of them.

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http://www.happinet.co.uk - Host your web site for less than the price of a pint of beer a week. Further 10% off for RFUK'ers... No programming required and No Compulsory Adverts

...............this l am finding out!

REPTA represent reptile and exotic trade, why does no one in the retail side know of them?

R

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