The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats & Ferrets) Bill received royal assent on 2nd December and is now law.
The new legislation includes a ban on importing
- dogs and cats who are less than six months old
- animals who are heavily pregnant-dogs and cats more than 42 days pregnant
- those which have been declawed or with their ears cropped or tails docked.
British Veterinary Association President Dr. Rob Williams MRCVS said:
“Every day, vets in practice see the devastating consequences of puppy smuggling and the loopholes that allow illegal and brutal mutilations like ear cropping and tail docking to continue. After years of tireless campaigning by the British Veterinary Association, the wide-ranging measures in this new legislation will finally stop criminal gangs from abusing pet travel rules for profit as well as tackle rising cases of imported diseases, such as Brucella canis, which are not currently endemic to the UK and which can be passed from pets to people.”
Dr Danny Chambers, vet and MP for Winchester said:
“As a vet, I've treated many dogs with cruelly cropped ears or docked tails, leaving them physically scarred and emotionally traumatised. Knowing this Bill will help us put a stop to this abuse and have a bigger impact on animal welfare than I could possibly have achieved in a lifetime treating individual animals, demonstrates how important this legislation will prove to be. Thanks to the support of organisations like the BVA and other animal welfare nonprofits, we got the Animal Welfare Bill through the Commons, through the Lords, and today passed into law."
The new law can be found online here -https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/30/enacted
