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

Date	Debate
Wednesday 14th May 2025	Committee stage

Type	Description
	Black center indicates Government or Bill Sponsor amendment
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Bill Content
List of Amendments

Page 1

Regulations about bringing dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom

Regulations about bringing dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom

Regulations for the purpose of animal welfare

(1)

An appropriate national authority may, for the purpose of promoting the welfare of

dogs, cats or ferrets, make regulations about the bringing of any of those animals

into the United Kingdom.

(2)

Regulations under subsection (1) may (in particular)—

(a)

prohibit or restrict, by reference to specified criteria, the bringing into

the United Kingdom of dogs, cats or ferrets;

(b)

provide that a prohibition or restriction (including a prohibition

imposed by virtue of subsection (3) or (4) ) is subject to specified

exemptions, including in cases where a permit issued under the

regulations is in force;

(c)

make provision for and in connection with applications for permits

and the determination of such applications;

(d)

require a specified fee to be paid on the making of such an application;

(e)

make provision about enforcement.

(3)

The first of any regulations about dogs that are made under subsection (1)

in relation to each of England, Scotland and Wales must prohibit the bringing

into that part of the United Kingdom of each of the following—

(a)

dogs that are below the age of 6 months;

(b)

dogs that are more than 42 days pregnant;

(c)

dogs that have been mutilated.

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(4)

The first of any regulations about cats that are made under subsection (1) in

relation to each of England, Scotland and Wales must prohibit the bringing

into that part of the United Kingdom of each of the following—

(a)

cats that are below the age of 6 months;

(b)

cats that are more than 42 days pregnant;

(c)

cats that have been mutilated.

(5)

The Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers may

not make subsequent regulations lifting a prohibition mentioned in subsection

(3) or (4) unless they have consulted such persons as they consider appropriate

about the proposed change.

Regulations about seized or detained animals

(6)

An appropriate national authority may by regulations make provision about dogs,

cats or ferrets that are seized or detained because of a contravention (or suspected

contravention) of any legislation (including regulations under subsection (1) ) that—

(a)

relates to animal welfare or animal health, and

(b)

is concerned with the bringing of dogs, cats or ferrets into the United

Kingdom.

(7)

Regulations under subsection (6) may (in particular)—

(a)

require a specified person to meet the costs of detaining a dog, cat or

ferret (whether directly or by reimbursing any person);

(b)

enable ownership of a dog, cat or ferret to be transferred in specified

circumstances.

Regulations about monetary penalties

(8)

An appropriate national authority may by regulations make provision enabling

monetary penalties to be imposed in cases involving the contravention of any

legislation (including regulations under subsection (1) ) that—

(a)

relates to animal welfare or animal health, and

(b)

is concerned with the bringing of dogs, cats or ferrets into the United

Kingdom.

Interpretation

(9)

For the purposes of subsections (3) and (4) , a dog or cat has been “mutilated”

if it has undergone a procedure which involves interference with its sensitive

tissues or bone structure otherwise than for the purpose of its medical

treatment.

(10)

In this section, “specified”, in relation to the making of regulations, means

specified in the regulations.

Regulations under

(1)

Regulations under section 1 may (in particular)—

(a)

confer a function (including a function involving the exercise of a

discretion) on a person specified in the regulations;

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(b)

make provision about the keeping of records or the provision of

information;

(c)

confer a power of entry, whether or not on the authority of a warrant;

(d)

confer a power of inspection, search, seizure or detention, whether or

not on the authority of a warrant;

(e)

authorise, or make provision for the authorisation of, the use of

reasonable force in connection with the exercise of a power mentioned

in paragraph (c) or (d) ;

(f)

make provision for the revocation of a person’s licence, authorisation

or other approval required under any legislation for the bringing of

dogs, cats or ferrets into the United Kingdom, where the person—

(i)

contravenes the regulations, or

(ii)

obstructs, or fails to assist in, the exercise of a function

conferred by the regulations;

(g)

create a criminal offence;

(h)

modify, repeal or revoke any provision made by—

(i)

an Act of Parliament (including sections 4 to 6 of this Act);

(ii)

an Act of the Scottish Parliament;

(iii)

an Act or Measure of Senedd Cymru;

(iv)

Northern Ireland legislation.

(2)

But regulations under section 1 that confer a power to enter a private dwelling

may not allow for the power to be exercised without the occupier’s consent,

or with the use of reasonable force, except—

(a)

in England and Wales, on the authority of a warrant issued by a justice

of the peace;

(b)

in Scotland, on the authority of a warrant issued by a sheriff or

summary sheriff;

(c)

in Northern Ireland, on the authority of a warrant issued by a lay

magistrate.

(3)

Where regulations under section 1 create a criminal offence, they must provide

that—

(a)

the offence is—

(i)

triable summarily only, or

(ii)

triable summarily or on indictment;

(b)

the offence is punishable—

(i)

with a fine, or

(ii)

with a term of imprisonment or a fine (or both);

(c)

any term of imprisonment with which the offence is punishable on

summary conviction does not exceed—

(i)

in England and Wales, the relevant maximum term;

(ii)

in Scotland, 12 months;

(iii)

in Northern Ireland, 6 months;

(d)

any term of imprisonment with which the offence is punishable on

conviction on indictment does not exceed 5 years.

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(4)

In subsection (3) (c) (i) , “the relevant maximum term” means—

(a)

in relation to an offence that is triable only summarily—

(i)

if the offence is committed before the time when section 281

of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 comes into force, 6 months;

(ii)

if the offence is committed after that time, 51 weeks;

(b)

in relation to an offence that is triable summarily or on indictment,

the general limit in a magistrates’ court.

Meaning of “appropriate national authority” and related provision

(1)

In section 1 , “appropriate national authority”, in relation to the making of

regulations, means—

(a)

the Secretary of State;

(b)

the Scottish Ministers, so far as provision made by the regulations

would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament

if contained in an Act of that Parliament;

(c)

the Welsh Ministers, so far as provision made by the regulations would

be within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru if contained

in an Act of Senedd Cymru;

(d)

the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in

Northern Ireland (“DAERA”), so far as provision made by the

regulations would be within the legislative competence of the Northern

Ireland Assembly if contained in an Act of that Assembly.

(2)

DAERA must obtain the consent of the Secretary of State before making any

provision in regulations under section 1 that, if contained in a Bill in the

Northern Ireland Assembly, would result in the Bill’s requiring the consent

of the Secretary of State under section 8 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(3)

The Secretary of State must obtain the consent of—

(a)

the Scottish Ministers,

(b)

the Welsh Ministers, or

(c)

DAERA,

before making any provision in regulations under section 1 that could be

made in regulations under that section by (respectively) the Scottish Ministers,

the Welsh Ministers, or DAERA.

(4)

But DAERA’s consent is not needed under subsection (3) for provision that

would need the Secretary of State’s consent under subsection (2) before it

could be made in regulations made by DAERA.

(5)

Schedule 7B to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (general restrictions on

legislative competence of Senedd Cymru) is amended as set out in subsections

(6) and (7) .

(6)

In paragraph 9(8)(b) (exceptions to restrictions relating to reserved

authorities)—

(a)

each of the sub-paragraphs numbered (i) and so on (including any

sub-paragraph not yet in force) becomes an unnumbered

sub-paragraph;

Page 5

(b)

omit the “or” after the penultimate of those sub-paragraphs;

(c)

at the end insert—

“the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act

2025.”

(7)

In paragraph 11(6)(b) (exceptions to restrictions relating to Ministers of the

Crown)—

(a)

each of the sub-paragraphs numbered (i) and so on (including any

sub-paragraph not yet in force) becomes an unnumbered

sub-paragraph;

(b)

omit the “or” after the penultimate of those sub-paragraphs;

(c)

at the end insert—

“the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act

2025.”

(8)

Where any enactment passed or made on or after the day on which this Act

is passed inserts a numbered sub-paragraph in paragraph 9(8)(b) or 11(6)(b)

of Schedule 7B to the Government of Wales Act 2006, the enactment has effect

as if—

(a)

it instead inserted an unnumbered sub-paragraph at the same place,

and

(b)

where relevant, it did not insert “or” before that sub-paragraph or

omit “or” before the preceding sub-paragraph.

Certain movements of dogs, cats and ferrets treated as commercial

Disapplication of non-commercial rules in certain cases

(1)

Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12

June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals and repealing Regulation

(EC) No 998/2003 is amended as follows.

(2)

In Article 3 (definitions), in point (a), at the end insert “(but see Articles 5

and 5A in relation to dogs, cats and ferrets)”.

(3)

Omit Article 4.

(4)

In Article 5 (maximum number of pet animals)—

(a)

for paragraph 1 substitute—

“1.

For the purposes of this Regulation, a movement of pet animals

of the species listed in Part A of Annex I (dogs, cats and ferrets)

is not a non-commercial movement if the relevant maximum

is exceeded at any time during the movement.

1A.

For the purposes of this Article, the relevant maximum is

exceeded:

(a)

in a case where the animals are being moved in a motor

vehicle (including a vehicle on board a train or ferry), if

Page 6

there are more than five animals of the species listed in

Part A of Annex I in the vehicle;

(b)

in any other case, if there are more than three animals

of the species listed in Part A of Annex 1 accompanying

the owner or an authorised person.”;

(b)

in paragraph 2—

(i)

for the words before point (a), substitute “Paragraph 1 does

not apply to pet animals if the following conditions are

fulfilled:”;

(ii)

in point (a), omit “non-commercial”;

(iii)

in point (b), for “the authorised person” substitute “an

authorised person”.

(c)

in paragraph 4—

(i)

for “the maximum number of pet animals referred to in

paragraph 1” substitute “the relevant maximum”;

(ii)

for “those pet animals” substitute “the pet animals in question”;

(d)

at the end insert—

“5A.

In paragraph 1A, “motor vehicle” means a mechanically

propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads.”

(5)

After Article 5 insert—

Article 5A

Movement of dogs, cats and ferrets to be within five days of owner

For the purposes of this Regulation, the movement of a pet animal of a species

listed in Part A of Annex 1 (dogs, cats and ferrets) is not a non-commercial

movement if the animal is not accompanied by the owner during the

movement, unless:

(a)

the owner:

(i)

entered Great Britain earlier on the day on which the animal does

so or at any time during the five days preceding that day; or

(ii)

is expected to enter Great Britain later on that day or at any time

during the five days following that day; and

(b)

the authorised person who accompanies the animal during the movement

provides evidence, to the appropriate authority’s satisfaction, as to when

the owner entered or is expected to enter Great Britain.”

(6)

In Article 25 (format and content of identification document), in paragraph

3, omit “or the authorised person”.

Corresponding application of commercial rules

(1)

In regulation 3 of the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 (S.I.

2011/1197)—

Page 7

(a)

for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1)

These Regulations do not apply in relation to pet animals where the

movement of the animals is a non-commercial movement for the purposes of

the Pets Regulation (see Articles 3, 5 and 5A of the Pets Regulation).”;

(b)

in paragraph (2), omit the definitions of “authorised person”, “non-commercial

movement”, “owner”, and “accompanying”.

(2)

In regulation 3 of the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Scotland)

Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/177)—

(a)

for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1)

These Regulations do not apply in relation to pet animals where

the movement of the animals is a non-commercial movement for the

purposes of the Pets Regulation (see Articles 3, 5 and 5A of the Pets

Regulation).”;

(b)

in paragraph (2), omit the definitions of “authorised person”,

“non-commercial movement”, “owner”, and “accompanying”.

(3)

In regulation 3 of the Trade in Animals and Related Products (Wales)

Regulations 2011 (S.I. 2011/2379 (W. 252))—

(a)

in the English language text—

(i)

for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1)

These Regulations do not apply in relation to pet animals

where the movement of the animals is a non-commercial

movement for the purposes of the Pets Regulation (see Articles

3, 5 and 5A of the Pets Regulation).”;

(ii)

in paragraph (2), omit the definitions of “accompanying”,

“authorised person”, “non-commercial movement”, and

“owner”;

(b)

in the Welsh language text—

(i)

for paragraph (1) substitute—

“(1)

Nid yw’r Rheoliadau hyn yn gymwys mewn perthynas

ag anifeiliaid anwes pan fo symud yr anifeiliaid yn symud

anfasnachol at ddibenion y Rheoliad Anifeiliaid Anwes (gweler

Erthyglau 3, 5 a 5A o’r Rheoliad Anifeiliaid Anwes).”;

(ii)

in paragraph (2), omit the definitions of “mynd gyda”, “person

awdurdodedig”, “symud anfasnachol” and “perchennog”.

Consequential provision

(1)

In Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 of 28 June 2013

on the model identification documents for the non-commercial movement of

dogs, cats and ferrets, the establishment of lists of territories and third

countries and the format, layout and language requirements of the declarations

attesting compliance with certain conditions provided for in Regulation (EU)

No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, in Section A of

Part 3 of Annex IV (model of declaration)—

Page 8

(a)

omit “or the natural person who has authorisation in writing from the

owner to carry out the non-commercial movement on behalf of the

owner ( 1 )” in the first and third places those words occur (that is to

say, in the paragraph after “I, the undersigned” and the paragraph

after “Place and date:”);

(b)

for “his movement” substitute “the owner’s movement”.

(2)

In Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council

of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed

to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and

welfare, plant health and plant protection products, in Article 53 (official

controls not performed at border control posts), in paragraph 1(d)(iv), for

“which meet the conditions laid down in Article 5 of” substitute “for a purpose

connected with”.

(3)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make other provision in consequence

of provision made by section 4 or 5 .

General

Regulations

(1)

Regulations under sections 1 and 6 (3) may make—

(a)

different provision for different purposes or areas;

(b)

consequential, incidental, supplementary, transitional or saving

provision.

(2)

A power of the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers to make regulations

under section 1 or 6 (3) is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(3)

A power of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

in Northern Ireland (“DAERA”) to make regulations under section 1 is

exercisable by statutory rule for the purposes of the Statutory Rules (Northern

Ireland) Order 1979 (S.I. 1979/1573 (N.I. 12)).

(4)

Regulations under section 1 are subject to the affirmative procedure, subject

to subsection (5) .

(5)

Regulations that contain provision made by virtue of section 1 (2) (d) (power

to specify fee in relation to permit application) and do not contain any other

provision under section 1 are subject to the negative procedure.

(6)

Regulations under section 6 (3) are subject to the negative procedure.

(7)

Where the Secretary of State, the Welsh Ministers or DAERA propose that

the same regulations should contain both—

(a)

provision under section 1 , and

(b)

provision under other legislation that may be made by regulations

subject to the negative procedure,

the provision mentioned in paragraph (b) may instead be made by regulations

subject to the affirmative procedure.

(8)

In this section—

Page 9

“subject to the affirmative procedure” , in relation to regulations made

by the Secretary of State, the Welsh Ministers or DAERA, means—

(a)

in the case of regulations made by the Secretary of State, that

a statutory instrument containing the regulations may not be

made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and

approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament;

(b)

in the case of regulations made by the Welsh Ministers, that a

statutory instrument containing the regulations may not be

made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before and

approved by a resolution of Senedd Cymru;

(c)

in the case of regulations made by DAERA, that the regulations

may not be made unless a draft of the regulations has been

laid before and approved by a resolution of the Northern

Ireland Assembly;

“subject to the negative procedure” , in relation to regulations made by

the Secretary of State, the Welsh Ministers or DAERA, means—

(a)

in the case of regulations made by the Secretary of State, that

a statutory instrument containing the regulations is subject to

annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of

Parliament;

(b)

in the case of regulations made by the Welsh Ministers, that a

statutory instrument containing the regulations is subject to

annulment in pursuance of a resolution of Senedd Cymru;

(c)

in the case of regulations made by DAERA, that the regulations

are subject to negative resolution within the meaning given by

section 41(6) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

(c. 33 (N.I.)).

(9)

In relation to regulations under this Act made by the Scottish Ministers, see—

(a)

section 27 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act

2010 (asp 10) (Scottish statutory instruments) for provision

corresponding to subsections (2) and (3) ;

(b)

section 33 of that Act (combination of certain powers) for provision

corresponding to subsection (7) ;

(c)

sections 28 and 29 of that Act for the meaning of “subject to the

negative procedure” and “subject to the affirmative procedure”.

Show Explanatory Text

"Extent, commencement and short title"

Source Bill 028 EN 2024-25

47. Clause 8 provides that Clauses 1 to 7 will come into force on such day or days as the Secretary of State may by regulations appoint.
48. Clause 8 will come into force on Royal Assent.

Extent, commencement and short title

(1)

Sections 1 to 3 and 7 and this section extend to England and Wales, Scotland

and Northern Ireland.

(2)

Sections 4 to 6 extend to England and Wales and Scotland.

(3)

Sections 1 to 7 come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by

regulations appoint.

(4)

This section comes into force on the day on which this Act is passed.

(5)

The Secretary of State may by regulations make transitional or saving provision

in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act.

Page 10

(6)

Regulations under this section may make different provision for different

purposes.

(7)

Regulations under this section are to be made by statutory instrument.

(8)

This Act may be cited as the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and

Ferrets) Act 2025.

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