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

Lord Grantchester Excerpts

Friday 5th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Grantchester (Lab)]

My Lords, I support the Bill and thank our two parliamentary veterinary Members, Dr Danny Chambers in the other place and the noble Lord, Lord Trees, for their sponsorship of this measure, introduced with the backing and support of the Government. This is an enabling Bill, setting minimum thresholds on welfare and conditions for the importation of dogs, cats and ferrets, long linked through their susceptibility to rabies. That subsequent and changeable regulations can be introduced following this measure to combat further ingenious exploitations of potential loopholes is to be welcomed as a step change in effective control.

I received many submissions on animal welfare, on dogs in particular, and I declare my interest as a BVA honorary associate. I thank all those who have written to me, and the British Veterinary Association in particular, which has conducted many surveys of its members, who have to deal with the unfortunate consequences of the huge rise in puppy smuggling. I also thank Andreas Milligan of the Metropolitan Police, a police dog handler who is familiar with the circumstances behind this trade, the abuses that occur and the necessary measures to combat them.

This Bill is important to deter the smugglers, improve the welfare of pets during non-commercial importation, reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases entering the UK, and protect potential customers. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Trees, for his excellent introduction to the Bill.

If I have one reservation about the Bill, it concerns what happens to seized pets detained at the borders. The Bill makes little mention of them other than in Clause 1(6) and (7). Can the House understand what provision is envisaged under forthcoming regulations? Clause 1(7)(a) allows for

“a specified person to meet the costs of detaining”

the animal. Crucially, Clause 1(7)(b) enables

“ownership of a dog, cat or ferret to be transferred in specified circumstances”.

Paragraph 24 of the Explanatory Notes does not provide any more clarity. I ask my noble friend the Minister, what is envisaged? If ownership is transferred, could the animal be put down in various circumstances? Furthermore, this provision could be used as a loophole to rehome rescued mutilated animals, defeating the object of the Bill. Can my noble friend provide clarity on this point?

I received many submissions from people anxious that rescue organisations will not be able to help mutilated animals in the future. Can my noble friend confirm that mutilated animals must never be imported and that rescue organisations can continue to receive distressed animals through the commercial route for importing animals?

The RSPCA reports a frightening 2,000% increase in ear cropping over the last 10 years. Does my noble friend agree that more clarity is needed on rescue situations to avoid unnecessary distress?

On further provisions and regulations to brought forward, has my noble friend considered building into future reviews asking front-line officers to come forward as a group with recommendations and reflections on their experiences in undertaking inspections at import points? This could well provide necessary information on how the legislation is working and its effectiveness in ending this malpractice.

I hope the Bill passes without amendment to give it every chance to become law.