To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail the current position in relation to a ban on the importation of (i) dogs and puppies with mutilations, including cropped ears and docked tails; and (ii) cats and kittens that have been declawed.

There are no laws prohibiting the import into Northern Ireland of dogs and puppies with mutilations, including cropped ears and docked tails, or cats and kittens that have been declawed.

In April 2024, UK Government Ministers had written to me to ask if I would support the extension of the Private Members Bill “Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill” to Northern Ireland, so that import of cats and dogs with mutilations could be prohibited here, as well as in Great Britain. I indicated that I was amenable but noted that the dissolution announcement meant that the Bill would no longer progress in that mandate.

I am conscious that the Irish Government has already banned the import of dogs with cropped ears and that the European Commission has published a draft regulation which would outlaw mutilations to cats and dogs.

Therefore, if there is an opportunity to work with the UK Government on new provisions in this area to further protect cats and dogs, I would be keen to explore this matter once again.