Commercial and Non-Commercial Movements of Pets into Great Britain

Overview

We are seeking your views on the government’s proposed changes to the rules governing the commercial and non-commercial movement of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) into Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) This does not include Northern Ireland. This is a joint consultation being issued by Defra on behalf of the UK Government, the Welsh Government, and the Scottish Government.  

A Welsh version of the consultation document can be found at the bottom of this page. Mae fersiwn Cymraeg o’r ddogfen ymgynghori ar gael ar waelod y tudalen hwn.

Now that we have left the European Union (EU), the government has the opportunity to manage our own pet travel (non-commercial) and commercial import requirements.

In June 2021, the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) bill was introduced to Parliament. The Bill aims to deliver the UK Government’s manifesto commitment to crack down on the issue of illegal puppy smuggling. 

The Bill includes a regulation-making power to introduce restrictions on commercial and non-commercial pet movements into Great Britain on welfare grounds and to make changes to the supporting enforcement regime.

We are consulting on these proposed new restrictions, which have been developed utilising recommendations[1] and evidence[2] from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee and third sector organisations, as well as public petitions[3][4] and campaigns for change. The key proposed measures include: