General information for the UK, not veterinary or legal advice. See a vet for any health concern.
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Recent changes to UK pet law

Changes to the rules our guides cover, newest first.

9 November 2026

Taking pets abroad: an Animal Health Certificate now covers 6 months of travel within the EU and return to Great Britain, and the tapeworm rule for Northern Ireland is clarified. See taking pets abroad.

Vet fees: updated for the CMA's legal Order of 22 September 2026, with the staged start dates and the prescription fee cap. See vet fees and your rights.

XL Bully rules: the child condition now in force since 1 November 2026, with who may supervise, the Scottish court step and the Scottish dates. See XL Bully rules.

Pet theft: the wording on pets as sentient beings now says it is the Government's description of the new law. See pet theft law.

Pets and renting: reasons a landlord may refuse, the deposit cap figures and the position in Scotland updated. See pets and renting.

1 November 2026

A new condition for XL Bully exemptions now applies: a child under 12 must not be left in close contact with an XL Bully in a private place unless supervised (by someone over 18 in England and Wales, or aged 16 or over in Scotland). See XL Bully rules.

1 July 2026

Third-party public liability insurance stopped being a condition of exemption for banned-type dogs.

1 May 2026

Tenants with assured tenancies in England gained the right to request a pet, which landlords must not unreasonably refuse. See pets and renting.

22 April 2026

Great Britain residents can no longer use EU pet passports to take pets into the EU, and need an Animal Health Certificate for each trip. See taking pets abroad.

24 March 2026

The Competition and Markets Authority published its final decision on vet services. See vet fees and your rights.

1 January 2025

Owning an XL Bully without an exemption certificate became illegal in Northern Ireland.

24 August 2024

Dog and cat abduction became specific offences in England and Northern Ireland. See pet theft law.

10 June 2024

Microchipping became compulsory for owned cats in England. See microchipping law.

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Reviewed 2026-11-09. General information for the UK, not veterinary or legal advice. See how we check.