Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Act
Commons billPrivate Members' Bill (Ballot)2025-26Act of Parliament
A Private Members' Bill introduced through the annual ballot, which gives backbench MPs a chance to secure Friday debate time. Ballot bills are the only PMBs with a realistic prospect of becoming law without government support.
1 The Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill makes provision to restrict the commercial importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom from third countries on grounds of animal welfare.
2 The Bill introduces an enabling power to address the problem of low-welfare imports of dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom. The power must be used to prohibit the bringing into Great Britain of puppies and kittens under six months and dogs and cats that are mutilated or heavily pregnant.
3 The Bill also seeks to address the current iss…