Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013

New animal welfare legislation introduced

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney has said new legislation on animal welfare which came into effect today, outlines in clear legal terms the responsibility people have when they own an animal.

The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/animalhealthwelfare/legislation/AnimalHealthandWelfareAct060314.pdf includes provision for increased powers for authorised officers to investigate complaints of animal cruelty, and stricter penalties on convictions.

New penalties for convictions include powers granted to a judge to ban a person from owning an animal and a maximum five-year prison sentence.

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