Gildernew announces plans for new animal welfare legislation

Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has announced plans to bring forward new animal welfare legislation.

The Minister said: “I have made it clear that a new Animal Welfare Bill is one of my key ministerial priorities. My review of animal welfare legislation is nearing completion and I can now announce that I expect to be in a position shortly after the summer recess to seek Executive approval to bring forward a Bill”.

Discussing the work of the review into existing legislation, the Minister said: “As part of my review of current legislation, I met a range of key stakeholders in order to hear their concerns at first hand. I found these meetings to be very informative. I will seek to reflect the concerns of stakeholders in my proposals for new legislation. As I believe that it is vitally important that animal welfare legislation across the island of Ireland is broadly compatible, the new legislation that I bring forward will also reflect on developments in the South, where new animal welfare legislation is also under consideration. I will also seek to ensure that we learn lessons from Britain where welfare legislation has already been introduced.”

The Minister added: “In bringing forward new legislation, I want to ensure that the maximum penalties are available to the Courts for animal cruelty offences, so that these penalties can act as a sufficient deterrent, and provide adequate protection for animals. This is one of the key areas that I will seek to address in the new legislation.”

Notes to Editors

1. Animal welfare is currently governed by the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972. Part I of the legislation provides for the welfare of livestock. Part II of the Act deals with the licensing of pet shops, animal boarding, riding and zoological establishments. Part III of the Act covers the protection of all animals and makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering or to be cruel to animals. It is also an offence if the owner of an animal fails to exercise reasonable care and supervision so as to prevent unnecessary suffering to an animal.
2. New legislation would seek to update the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972.
3. In addition, the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000, as amended, sets out minimum standards for all farmed animals and provides a framework for species-specific standards. This legislation requires that owners and keepers of farm animals must take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of their animals, and to ensure that they are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering, injury or distress.
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