Pet shops will be banned from selling puppies under tough new rules to prevent so-called “puppy farming”.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, wants to restrict the sale of puppies to licensed breeders and animal rehoming charities only.

Mr Gove said he wanted to introduce a ban on third-party sales of puppies “to do everything we can to make sure the nation’s much loved pets get the right start in life”.

It follows warnings of a “puppy trade crisis” from the RSPCA.

In December Mr Gove said he would make sure a puppy’s mother was present when they are sold, but on Wednesday he went further with a call for evidence on several proposed new measures.

They include banning licensed sellers from dealing with puppies and kittens under the age of eight weeks; introducing compulsory licensing for breeders who sell puppies, which they must have bred themselves, and requiring puppy sales to be completed in the presence of the new owner, preventing online sales.