Alliance briefs of Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill

The Countryside Alliance fully supports this Bill as a straightforward measure to improve animal welfare. We urge politicians of all parties to support it and co-operate in securing its passage.

In the last Parliament, a similar Bill under the same title attracted cross-party support. It received a Second Reading but fell at dissolution prior to the General Election.

This Bill seeks to clamp down on the smuggling of dogs, cats and ferrets. It would ban the import of puppies and kittens under six months and dogs and cats that are mutilated or heavily pregnant, and also reduce the number of animals that can travel into Great Britain under non-commercial rules originally introduced when we were in the European Union.

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In a briefing note sent to MPs ahead of the Second Reading of this Bill, the Countryside Alliance outlines the purpose of the Bill and its content, notable changes from the 2022-2023 Bill, and our overall position on the issues within in.

We believe that this Bill will help reduce current abuse of the non-commercial pet movement system, which allows, in particular, the import of low-welfare puppies into the country.

There has been only one substantive change in this Bill: a new clause on pre-testing to avoid diseases such as rabies and brucella canis becoming endemic in the UK.

We would expect exemptions introduced by regulations to include pet animals being moved into Great Britain for the purpose of participating in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, or in training for such events.

The Countryside Alliance fully supports this Bill as a straightforward measure to improve animal welfare. We urge politicians of all parties to support it and co-operate in securing its passage. We believe that this Bill will help reduce current abuse of the non-commercial pet movement system, which allows, in particular, the import of low-welfare puppies into the country.

We also welcome that the Bill will prohibit the import of puppies under six months old, heavily pregnant bitches and those which have been subject to mutilations that would not have been lawful here, subject to necessary and sensible exceptions.