25.02.26
Northern Ireland has announced it will introduce mandatory registration for all sellers of puppies and kittens, following a recent public consultation.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has said it plans to have new legislation in place in the Autumn. This will mark a significant step forward for companion animal welfare and will make Northern Ireland the first UK nation to introduce a public register of puppy and kitten sellers.
What has been proposed?
Under the new system:
- All sellers of puppies and kittens under 6 months of age must register with their local council.
- Sellers must comply with a set of welfare rules.
- Only sellers who have bred the puppies or kittens themselves will be permitted to sell them, helping to tackle harmful third-party sales.
- Registered sellers will appear on a publicly accessible register, which will increase transparency for prospective buyers.
These changes will help improve traceability, accountability and help disrupt the business model of unscrupulous dealers who profit from low-welfare breeding and third-party selling.
A positive step forward but more must follow
Naturewatch Foundation was pleased to contribute to the consultation and welcomes this progress. Greater transparency and restrictions on third-party sales are important in tackling irresponsible breeding. We’re particularly pleased that DAERA plans to introduce a register of sellers, as Northern Ireland is currently the least transparent nation when it comes to the puppy trade.
However, registration alone will not end low-welfare breeding. Without strong enforcement, widespread public awareness of the changes and a well-designed system, irresponsible operators will continue to exploit animals, making the detail of how registration will be implemented extremely important. Improvements to Northern Ireland’s dog breeding regulations are also urgently needed.
The crucial next step: Overhaul Northern Ireland’s dog breeding laws
Northern Ireland’s dog breeding legislation is currently under review by an expert panel, to which Naturewatch Foundation has provided evidence. When the panel publishes its findings later this year, we urge DAERA to next deliver long-overdue improvements to the welfare protections afforded to dogs used for breeding.
To truly tackle puppy farming, Northern Ireland needs:
- Stronger welfare rules for dogs used for breeding.
- Effective inspection and enforcement processes.
- Clear limits on the number of dogs one premises can keep to prevent intensive breeding.
- Meaningful penalties for non-compliance.
Northern Ireland now has an opportunity to finally bring an end to puppy farming.
You can read DAERA’s announcement here: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/muir-announces-next-steps-towards-introducing-new-rules-selling-and-supplying-puppies-and-kittens-northern-ireland.
Learn more about our work to end low-welfare and illegal breeding here: https://naturewatch.org/campaigns/companion-animals/.
