Updated animal welfare laws have been delayed by Brexit.

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot was asked in Tynwald by Daphne Caine (Garff) to give an update on the introduction of new legislation, which had previously been pencilled in for 2018/19.

Mr Boot said: ’In spite of best intentions, the workloads related to Brexit have been much larger and are continuing much longer than anticipated, especially for the chief veterinary officer and the animal health team, who are affected by the livestock imports and exports implications.

’As a result, no significant further progress has yet been made on the Animal Welfare Bill.’

He pointed out that the Isle of Man did have animal cruelty laws in place, but they had a higher threshold for enforcement.

Mrs Caine also asked whether consideration would be given to including protection for service animals in any new law.

Mr Boot said DEFA officers met a delegation including the founder of Finn’s Law UK to discuss the idea. Finn’s Law is the name given to new legislation in the UK designed specifically to extend animal welfare legislation to include service animals such as police dogs.

The Minister said: ’As a result of this, I am intending to include an appropriate section on service animals in the draft Animal Welfare Bill when it goes out to consultation.

’I remain fully committed to the introduction of animal welfare legislation and it will be a high priority after Brexit.’