Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill 2024-26


make provision for and in connection with restricting the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets.

Private Members' Bill (Ballot Bill)

What is this Bill?

The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill is a Ballot Bill tabled by Danny Chambers.

Is this Bill currently before Parliament?

Yes. This Bill was introduced on 16 October 2024 and is currently before Parliament.

Whose idea is this Bill?

As a Private Members' Bill, this Bill represents the individual initiative of an MP (Danny Chambers), not the Government.

What type of Bill is this?

20 Ballot Bills places are awarded by lottery to backbench MP's at the start of each Session. These Bills receive precedence for debate in the Commons and a handful will succeed in becoming enacted into law.

The higher chance of success means MPs who win a ballot slot are frequently lobbied by groups wishing to have legislation tabled on their behalf, but the choice of bill ultimately remains with the MP.

So is this going to become a law?

Historically, between 3 and 13 of the 20 Ballot Bills have succeeded in becoming enacted into law. Therefore, provided this bill is sufficiently high in the Ballot and the Government has no means to object to the bill, it has the greatest chance of PMBs to be enacted into law.

How can I find out exactly what this Bill does?

The most straightforward information is contained in the initial Explanatory Notes for the Bill.

Would you like to know more?

See these Glossary articles for more information: Ballot Bill, Private Members Bill, Process of a Bill

Official Bill Page Initial Explanatory Notes Initial Briefing papers Ministerial Extracts from Debates All Bill Debates

Next Event: There is no future stage currently scheduled for this bill

Last Event: Friday 5th September 2025 - 2nd reading (Lords)

29 Amendments have been proposed for this Bill
View Amendments

Bill Progession through Parliament

Commons Completed
Lords - 40%

Timeline of Bill Documents and Stages

5th September 2025
2nd reading: Minutes of Proceedings (Lords)
5th September 2025
2nd reading (Lords)
13th August 2025
Briefing papers
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 117 of 2024-25
24th July 2025
Delegated Powers Memorandum
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill: Delegated Powers Memorandum
23rd July 2025
Select Committee report
31st Report of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee
7th July 2025
1st reading (Lords)
7th July 2025
1st reading: Minutes of Proceedings (Lords)
7th July 2025
Explanatory Notes
HL Bill 117 Explanatory Notes
7th July 2025
Bill
HL Bill 117 (as brought from the Commons)
4th July 2025
3rd reading (Commons)
3rd July 2025
Legislative Consent Motions-devolved legislatures
Legislative Consent Motion agreed by the Northern Ireland Assembly - 1 July 2025
2nd July 2025
Briefing papers
Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill 2024-25
26th June 2025
Legislative Consent Motions-devolved legislatures
Legislative Consent Motion agreed by the Scottish Parliament - 26 June 2025
15th May 2025
Bill
Bill 239 2024-25 (as amended in Public Bill Committee)
14th May 2025
Committee stage (Commons)
14th May 2025
Amendment Paper
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025

3

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 14 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 2, page 3, line 21, leave out “But”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment is consequential on Amendment 2.</p>

2

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 14 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 2, page 3, line 29, at end insert—<br> “(2A) Regulations under section 1 may create a criminal offence only in relation to (or in relation to the causing or permitting of)—<br> (a) a contravention of a prohibition or restriction imposed by virtue of section 1(2)(a);<br> (b) where by virtue of section 1(2)(b) such a prohibition or restriction is subject to an exemption, a contravention of a condition attached to the exemption;<br> (c) a contravention of a requirement imposed by any relevant legislation to carry out checks in relation to the bringing of animals into the United Kingdom;<br> (d) a contravention of a requirement imposed by any relevant legislation to provide information or documents, or the provision of false or misleading information or documents in purported compliance with such a requirement;<br> (e) the obstruction of, or a failure to assist, a person acting in the execution of powers conferred by any relevant legislation.<br> (2B) In subsection (2A), “relevant legislation” means legislation (including regulations under section 1) that relates to animal welfare or animal health.”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment qualifies clause 2(1)(g) (power to create criminal offences in regulations under clause 1) by setting out the only conduct in relation to which offences may be created.</p>

14th May 2025
Bill proceedings: Commons
Public Bill Committee Proceedings as at 14 May 2025
13th May 2025
Amendment Paper
Notices of Amendments as at 13 May 2025

1

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 2, page 3, line 15, after “offence” insert “(but see subsection (2A))”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment inserts in clause 2(1)(g) a signpost to the new subsection inserted by Amendment 2.</p>

14

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 4, page 5, line 28, at end insert—<br> “(b) in point (b), after “non-commercial movement” (in the first place it occurs) insert “(including movement that would be non-commercial movement but for Article 5 or 5A)”.”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment makes a minor clarificatory change in consequence of the other amendments made by Clause 4.</p>

4

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 4, page 6, line 8, after “to” insert “a movement of”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment is consequential on Amendment 5.</p>

5

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 4, page 6, line 12, at end insert—<br> “(ba) after paragraph 3 insert—<br> “3A Paragraph 1 does not apply to a movement of pet animals if—<br> (a) the appropriate authority determines that there are exceptional or compelling circumstances that justify the movement’s being treated as a non-commercial movement even if the relevant maximum is exceeded; and<br> (b) the movement meets any conditions attached to the determination.””


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment allows for the appropriate authority to disapply the limit on the number of animals that can be brought in under the rules applicable to non-commercial movements, where justified in the particular circumstances of the case.</p>

6

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 4, page 6, line 13, leave out paragraph (c) and insert—<br> “(c) In paragraph 4, for the words from the beginning to “those pet animals” substitute “Where paragraph 1 applies and the relevant maximum is exceeded, the pet animals in question””


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment is consequential on Amendment 5.</p>

7

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 4, page 6, line 23, leave out “the movement” and insert “a movement”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment is consequential on Amendment 8.</p>

8

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 4, page 6, line 34, at end insert—<br> “2 Paragraph 1 does not apply to a movement of a pet animal if—<br> (a) the appropriate authority determines that there are exceptional or compelling circumstances that justify the movement’s being treated as a non-commercial movement even if—<br> (i) the animal is not accompanied by the owner, and<br> (ii) one or both of the conditions in paragraph 1(a) and (b) are not met; and<br> (b) the movement meets any conditions attached to the determination.”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment allows for the appropriate authority to disapply the requirement that an animal’s movement be within 5 days of the owner’s, where justified in the particular circumstances of the case.</p>

9

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 6, page 8, line 14, leave out subsection (3)


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment removes the power to make provision in regulations that is consequential on clause 4 or 5.</p>

10

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 7, page 8, line 18, leave out “sections 1 and 6(3)” and insert “section 1”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment is consequential on Amendment 9.</p>

11

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 7, page 8, line 23, leave out “or 6(3)”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment is consequential on Amendment 9.</p>

12

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 7, page 8, line 33, leave out subsection (6)


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment is consequential on Amendment 9.</p>

13

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 13 May 2025
Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 14 May 2025
This amendment was agreed

Clause 7, page 9, line 28, leave out “this Act” and insert “section 1”


Explanatory Text

<p>This amendment is consequential on Amendment 9.</p>

13th May 2025
Impact Assessments
Impact Assessment of changes to the non-commercial pet travel rules brought forward in the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill
13th May 2025
Selection of amendments: Commons
Chair’s provision selection and grouping of amendments in Committee - 14 May 2025
12th May 2025
Money resolution
9th May 2025
Amendment Paper
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025

14

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 9 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 4, page 5, line 28, at end insert— "(b) in point (b), after “non-commercial movement” (in the first place it occurs) insert “(including movement that would be non-commercial movement but for Article 5 or 5A)”.”

8th May 2025
Amendment Paper
Notices of Amendments as at 8 May 2025

1

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 2, page 3, line 15, after "offence” insert "(but see subsection (2A))"

2

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 13 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 2, page 3, line 21, leave out "But"

3

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 13 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 2, page 3, line 29, at end insert— "(2A) Regulations under section 1 may create a criminal offence only in relation to (or in relation to the causing or permitting of)— (a) a contravention of a prohibition or restriction imposed by virtue of section 1(2)(a); (b) where by virtue of section 1(2)(b) such a prohibition or restriction is subject to an exemption, a contravention of a condition attached to the exemption; (c) a contravention of a requirement imposed by any relevant legislation to carry out checks in relation to the bringing of animals into the United Kingdom; (d) a contravention of a requirement imposed by any relevant legislation to provide information or documents, or the provision of false or misleading information or documents in purported compliance with such a requirement; (e) the obstruction of, or a failure to assist, a person acting in the execution of powers conferred by any relevant legislation. (2B) In subsection (2A),“relevant legislation” means legislation (including regulations under section 1) that relates to animal welfare or animal health."

4

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 4, page 6, line 8, after “to” insert “a movement of"

5

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 4, page 6, line 12, at end insert— "(ba) after paragraph 3 insert— "3A Paragraph 1 does not apply to a movement of pet animals if— (a) the appropriate authority determines that there are exceptional or compelling circumstances that justify the movement's being treated as a non-commercial movement even if the relevant maximum is exceeded; and (b) the movement meets any conditions attached to the determination.""

6

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 4, page 6, line 13, leave out paragraph (c) and insert— "(c) In paragraph 4, for the words from the beginning to “those pet animals" substitute "Where paragraph 1 applies and the relevant maximum is exceeded, the pet animals in question”"

7

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 4, page 6, line 23, leave out "the movement" and insert "a movement"

8

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 4, page 6, line 34, at end insert— "2 Paragraph 1 does not apply to a movement of a pet animal if— (a) the appropriate authority determines that there are exceptional or compelling circumstances that justify the movement's being treated as a non-commercial movement even if— (i) the animal is not accompanied by the owner, and (ii) one or both of the conditions in paragraph 1(a) and (b) are not met; and (b) the movement meets any conditions attached to the determination.”

9

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 6, page 8, line 14, leave out subsection (3)

10

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 7, page 8, line 18, leave out "sections 1 and 6(3)" and insert "section 1"

11

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 7, page 8, line 23, leave out "or 6(3)"

12

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 7, page 8, line 33, leave out subsection (6)

13

Danny Chambers (LD) - Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Mental Health)
Tabled: 8 May 2025
Notices of Amendments as at 9 May 2025
This amendment was agreed to

Clause 7, page 9, line 28, leave out "this Act” and insert "section 1”

29th November 2024
2nd reading (Commons)
27th November 2024
Bill
Bill 028 2024-25 (as introduced)
27th November 2024
Bill
Bill 028 2024-25 (as introduced) - xml download
27th November 2024
Explanatory Notes
Bill 028 EN 2024-25
27th November 2024
Delegated Powers Memorandum
Memorandum from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
16th October 2024
1st reading (Commons)