DAERA Minister Andrew Muir is under fire from animal campaigners to move legislation forward before the next election in May 2027
Pressure is mounting on DAERA MInister Andrew Muir to bring forward legislation concerning the sale of puppies and kittens. Animal campaigners who have formed a coalition of animal welfare charities, say this is hugely disappointing.
The Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group (NICAWG) has long lobbied for a law change which would limit sales of puppies and kittens to licenced breeders only, also known as Lucy’s Law, putting an end to unscrupulous breeders who put profit before welfare.
Last June, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir MLA launched a public consultation asking for views on the sale and supply of puppies and kittens. NICAWG welcomed the consultation as a huge step forward for animal welfare.
But a year on, it is concerned no legislation has been laid and the Assembly term is nearing its end.
Laura Orr, Chair of NICAWG and Regional Public Affairs Officer at Dogs Trust said: “Time is running out in this Assembly mandate to protect puppies and kittens across Northern Ireland. NICAWG supports the Ministers proposals, and we have been campaigning for many years to increase protections for buyers, breeding animals, and their young.
“We do not want to see the hard work put into creating these proposals fail because we run out of time during this Assembly for the legislation to pass.
“We are calling on Minister Muir to lay legislation imminently allowing sufficient time for scrutiny.”
In February, the DAERA Minister outlined that officials would take forward legislation to require sellers and suppliers of puppies, and sellers of kittens, under six months of age, to register with their local council and meet specified selling conditions, and that this would be laid by autumn 2026.
One condition of registration is a ban on the third-party sale of puppies and kittens. This means that anyone selling and supplying puppies and selling kittens in Northern Ireland, must have bred them themselves.
In a written statement issued on the 6th July the Minister said: “I intend to bring forward a Statutory Rule to ban third party sales. The legislation will prohibit the sale of puppies and kittens, and the supply of puppies, by anyone who did not breed the animals, and will require all sales or supplies to take place at the premises where the animals were bred”.
He cited that regulations to establish the registration scheme will be brought forward at a later stage.
However, there was no timeline given to when legislation is expected to be laid and earlier responses, including to an Assembly question in May, have indicated it could be as late as the end of 2026.
Alice Palombo, Advocacy & Government Relations Manager for Cats Protection, said: “The Minister’s reassurance that these regulations will be brought forward is welcome, but it is disappointing that these important reforms have not yet been introduced.
“Earlier this year, it was announced that the legislation would be brought forward by autumn 2026, so there is understandable concern about the delay and the limited time remaining to deliver these protections.
“These proposals have the potential to deliver one of the most significant improvements to companion animal welfare in Northern Ireland for many years.
“We urge the Department to lay the legislation now to give much needed protections to kittens, puppies and their mothers.”
