02/07/2025

Assembly Backs Ban On Mutilated Cat And Dog Imports

Minister Andrew Muir has announced a significant step forward for animal welfare in Northern Ireland, as the Assembly has approved a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) to extend powers from the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill to the region.

This move will enable the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to introduce new rules targeting the import of cats and dogs that have undergone painful procedures such as de-clawing or ear cropping.

The Bill is currently making its way through the UK Parliament. While it has been illegal to mutilate any animal for cosmetic reasons in Northern Ireland since 2011, a loophole has existed where it was not illegal to purchase or import animals that had these procedures performed in other countries where they are permitted.
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Welcoming the Assembly's approval of the LCM, Minister Muir stated: “I am committed to ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare and creating a safe environment for all pets. I welcome this approval by the Assembly which marks a significant step forward in protecting companion animals from cruel and inhumane practices.”

The Minister further elaborated on the necessity of the new measures: “No animal should be subjected to mutilations for aesthetic reasons. Ear cropping or tail docking are intensely painful procedures, carried out at a young age and deliver no health or welfare benefits. Gaining consent today provides my Department with the ability to close any remaining loopholes in our law and it sends a message that these inhumane practices have no place in our society."

Once the UK Bill receives Royal Assent, these powers will allow DAERA to make secondary legislation within the Northern Ireland Assembly to prohibit the importation of these animals on welfare grounds, strengthening existing protections for pets across the region.


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