Expert report recommends regulation of canine fertility services in Northern Ireland
Date published:
An independent report recommending regulation of canine fertility services in Northern Ireland has been published by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
The supplementary report follows the Expert Advisory Group’s review of the Dog Breeding Regulations in Northern Ireland, published in May 2026, and completes the Group’s work on commercial dog breeding and canine fertility services.
The reports were produced by an independent Expert Advisory Group chaired by Professor Gareth Arnott of Queen’s University Belfast, alongside veterinary surgeon Susan Cunningham and animal welfare legal specialist Vanessa Barnes.
The report identifies rapid growth in canine fertility services across the UK in recent years and examines the associated animal welfare, consumer protection and enforcement risks.
Although only a small number of commercial operators are officially identified in Northern Ireland, the Group received stakeholder evidence that other services are being offered, including through social media and online pet-selling platforms. The absence of a dedicated regulatory framework and verified data means the overall scale and nature of activity remain unclear.
Launching the report, the Expert Advisory Group said: “We thank all those who provided evidence and information to support this work. The evidence indicates that unregulated canine fertility services can present significant risks to animal welfare and that the current framework contains important gaps in oversight and enforcement.
“Our recommendations are intended to provide a pragmatic and proportionate basis for ensuring that any canine fertility services operating in Northern Ireland are subject to appropriate veterinary oversight, welfare safeguards and effective enforcement.”
The Expert Advisory Group has made 12 recommendations, centred on stronger veterinary oversight, animal welfare safeguards and effective enforcement.
These include:
- recommending that canine fertility services should normally be provided through registered veterinary practices;
- licensing of any premises operating outside those practices;
- requiring a responsible named veterinary surgeon and appropriately qualified staff;
- introducing mandatory veterinary fitness-to-breed assessments before provision of fertility services;
- controls around artificial insemination, elective caesarean sections and the commercial use of stud dogs.
Welcoming publication of the report, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir said: “I welcome the Expert Advisory Group’s second report and thank its members and all those who contributed evidence to this important work.
“The report identifies important issues around veterinary oversight, enforcement and, fundamentally, the welfare of dogs and their offspring. While the number of officially identified operators in Northern Ireland is small, the evidence considered by the Group indicates that other services are being offered and that the full extent of activity is not yet known.
“The Department will now consider the recommendations in detail, including their interaction with the review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, and will engage with district councils, the PSNI, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, welfare organisations and other UK administrations.
“A coordinated approach across jurisdictions is desirable where it can provide clarity and consistent welfare standards. That will not prevent us from considering action within Northern Ireland’s devolved responsibilities. Any proposals will require full policy development, consultation, statutory assessments and consideration of practical enforcement and resourcing implications before decisions are taken.”
The report can be found on the DAERA website at Expert Advisory Group 'Canine Fertility Services in Northern Ireland'.
Notes to editors:
- The establishment of the Expert Advisory Group and the completion of this review form part of the Minister’s wider programme of animal welfare reforms contained within the Animal Welfare Pathway, aimed at delivering lasting improvements to welfare standards across Northern Ireland.
- The Expert Advisory Group was appointed to carry out an independent review of dog breeding regulations in Northern Ireland. Expert advisory group to review Dog Breeding Regulations in Northern Ireland appointed.
- The Group considered evidence from stakeholders and best practice from other jurisdictions, including international approaches.
- A copy of the Report on Dog Breeding can be found here - https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/review-dog-breeding-regulations-northern-ireland-recommendations-improve-animal-welfare
- Publication of the independent report does not constitute acceptance of every recommendation. The Department will consider the findings through the normal policy-development process, including consultation, statutory assessments, Ministerial approval and assessment of enforcement and resourcing requirements.
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