Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir has officially released the "Way Forward" document and consultation findings regarding the sale of puppies and kittens in Northern Ireland.

The announcement confirms that the region will soon adopt its own version of "Lucy's Law," bringing its animal welfare protections in line with the rest of the UK.

Under the new legislative proposals, any individual selling kittens or selling and supplying puppies under the age of six months must be registered with their local council. A primary condition of this registration is the prohibition of third-party sales, meaning that sellers must have bred the animals themselves.

Minister Muir emphasised that the move aims to ensure all pets are raised under high welfare standards. He noted that by mandating direct purchasing from breeders, the risk of disease is reduced and the animals benefit from better socialisation and habituation by staying with their mothers longer.

Minister Muir stated: "I am delighted to announce that Northern Ireland will soon have its own version of Lucy's Law, ensuring that we are giving the same protections to puppies and kittens that exist in other parts of the UK. "I want owners to have confidence that their new pets have been cared to the high standards of welfare that all animals deserve. This ban on the third-party sale of puppies and kittens, as well as accompanying mandatory registration for sellers and suppliers, will lead to better outcomes for the animals, reducing the risk of disease and improving socialisation and habituation. Purchasing directly from a breeder helps to avoid early separation from the mother, and ultimately, will see more puppies and kittens raised in responsible, caring environments."

The Minister added that the public consultation showed overwhelming support for the intervention. Legislation is expected to be drafted this autumn, with DAERA officials working alongside local councils to ensure effective enforcement.

The move has been welcomed by animal welfare advocates. Laura Orr, Regional Public Affairs Officer at Dogs Trust and Chair of the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group (NICAWG), commented: "We welcome DAERA's proposals following the consultation on the sale and supply of puppies and kittens. NICAWG supports the recommendations, which will require sellers and suppliers of puppies, and sellers of kittens, under six months of age, to register with their local council and for a register of those sellers to be publicly accessible.

"We fully support this proposed ban on the third-party sale of puppies and kittens. Buying directly from breeders offers greater protection for the animals, and helps tackle irresponsible breeding and selling, which is something NICAWG have been campaigning on for many years. We believe robust implementation of the legislation across council areas will be critical, but will lead to improved animal welfare standards for companion animals in Northern Ireland, which is fantastic news."