Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 117 of 2024-25
The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill is a private member’s bill that would enable national authorities in each part of the UK to make regulations on the import of dogs, cats and ferrets with the aim of protecting their welfare.
The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill is a private member’s bill that would enable national authorities in each part of the UK to make regulations on the import of dogs, cats and ferrets. Any regulations must first raise the age at which puppies and kittens could be imported from 15 weeks to six months. They would also need to prevent the import of dogs and cats that were more than 42 days pregnant and those that had been mutilated (for example if they had their ears cropped, tails docked or been declawed).
The bill would also amend assimilated law (previously known as retained EU law) to limit the number of dogs, cats and ferrets that could be brought into Great Britain as a non-commercial movement to five per vehicle and three per foot passenger. An animal’s owner would also be required to enter Great Britain within five days either side of their animal’s arrival if they were not travelling with them. The current arrangements in Northern Ireland would continue to apply under the Windsor Framework.
Various stakeholders have raised concerns about the welfare of animals being brought into the UK. These have predominantly related to the issues of puppy smuggling and the import of heavily pregnant or mutilated animals.
The bill was sponsored in the House of Commons by Dr Danny Chambers (Liberal Democrat MP for Winchester). It completed its stages in the House of Commons on 4 July 2025. The bill has received cross-party support during its parliamentary stages so far. This included support from the government, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs preparing the bill’s explanatory notes. At committee stage, 16 amendments, the majority of which were minor and technical, were made to the bill without division.
The bill received its first reading in the House of Lords on 7 July 2025 and is due to receive its second reading on 5 September 2025. It is sponsored by Lord Trees (Crossbench).
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