DAERA Minister has welcomed the Assembly's
recent approval of legislation making closed-circuit television
(CCTV) mandatory in slaughterhouses across Northern Ireland,
describing it as clear progress in delivering the practical
reforms set out in the Animal Welfare Pathway.
The new regulations, which will come into force on 1st August,
will reinforce the high standards already operating across
Northern Ireland's slaughterhouses by placing existing good
practice on a clear statutory footing. With most premises already
using CCTV, the regulations will now ensure consistency across
the sector by requiring coverage in all areas where live animals
are present, retaining footage for 90 days and ensuring access
for authorised officers. This will bring Northern Ireland into
line with the rest of the United Kingdom, strengthen transparency
and oversight, support proportionate enforcement and help
maintain public confidence in animal welfare standards.
Alongside this, the Department is continuing to advance the wider
Animal Welfare Pathway, including reforms on dog licensing,
microchipping, dog licence fees, aversive training devices, and
rescue and rehoming. A public consultation seeking views on
proposals closed last week and over 700 responses have been
received. Analysis of the responses is underway to inform the
consultation response and proposed way forward to be published in
the autumn.
Minister Muir said: I am pleased that the Assembly has approved
legislation that will make CCTV mandatory in all Northern Ireland
slaughterhouses. This will help strengthen protections for
animals during unloading, handling, lairage, stunning and
slaughter.
Improving animal welfare is a priority for me and for my
Department. The Animal Welfare Pathway sets out an ambitious
programme of reform, and I am committed to progressing the
measures that will make the greatest difference for animals,
owners, councils and the wider public.
Significant progress has also been made in other key areas,
including publication of the independent dog breeding review,
development of legislation to introduce Lucy's Law in Northern
Ireland and the Animal Welfare and Responsible Dog Ownership
campaign.
On dog breeding, the Department commissioned an independent
review of the Welfare of Animals (Dog Breeding Establishments and
Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013.
The review group, chaired by Professor Gareth Arnott of Queen's
University Belfast completed its report at the beginning of May.
It makes 11 headline recommendations, and approximately 50 sub
recommendations, covering issues such as maximum dog numbers at
breeding premises, mating rules, protections for breeding and
retired dogs, veterinary oversight, socialisation and enrichment,
staffing levels, fitness to breed, identification of adult dogs
on licences, procedures for the sale of puppies and training and
inspection procedures.
Minister Muir added: The review has shown that reform is needed
and that stronger protections are required for dogs and their
puppies. Some of the recommendations are novel and would place
Northern Ireland at the forefront of animal welfare reform.
Delivering them will require careful planning, engagement and a
phased approach."
The Department is reviewing the Group's findings and will
identify which recommendations can be taken forward to public
consultation in the autumn as part of phase 1 implementation.
Minister Muir has also reaffirmed plans to bring forward
legislation to introduce Lucy's Law in Northern Ireland, banning
third-party sales of puppies and kittens and requiring sales or
supplies to take place at the premises where the animals were
bred. The legislation will include safeguards to improve
transparency and welfare, including restrictions on the sale of
unweaned or under-eight-week-old animals, a requirement for sales
to take place in the presence of the animal's mother, disclosure
of medical treatment, specified advertising information and
appropriate record keeping. Further regulations to establish a
registration scheme will be brought forward at a later stage.
Minister Muir said: I want to end third-party sales at the
earliest opportunity and ensure that new rules are robust,
enforceable and deliver better transparency for animal welfare
officers and the public. This is a significant programme of
reform, and I remain focused on delivering meaningful
improvements for companion animal welfare during this mandate.
Note to editors:
- The policy proposals within the consultation document were
first announced in a commitment as part of the Minister's
Animal Welfare Pathway
2025-27.
- The Dog Breeding Review Report can be found: Review of the dog breeding
regulations in NI, with recommendations to improve animal
welfare.
