A vote has passed in the Senedd introducing new regulations for pet sales, including a ban on third-party sales of puppies and kittens.

This means that from 10 September it will be an offence to sell a puppy or kitten which the seller has not bred themselves.

The new regulations require the seller to have bred the puppy or kitten "at the premises" – which puts a stop to lengthy and multiple transportations for the young animals, which can cause distress.

This applies to travel in and around Wales, as well as banning puppies and kittens from being brought in to Wales, for sale.

Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said:

"I want to thank all Senedd members for voting to ban the third-party sales of puppies and kittens today.

"We hope a ban will encourage respectful and responsible attitudes towards all animals, provide greater transparency for people who wish to welcome puppies or kittens into their homes as to how they have been bred, and empower Local Authorities to take action if they have concerns about how puppies and kittens are being bred and sold."

Chief Veterinary Officer Christianne Glossop said: "The way we treat animals reflects the values of our society. That is why Welsh Government and the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group work in conjunction to promote high animal welfare standards and the responsible ownership of animals.

"This law will now close loopholes to protect the welfare and wellbeing of our puppies and kittens, while educating us all about what is right and fair for our pets."

The Regulations will come fully into force on 10 September.

During this time Statutory Guidance will be co-produced to support enforcement by Local Authorities and this timeline will also allow existing sellers affected to make changes and consider a different operating model to mitigate any potential impact.

RSPCA Cymru said the vote result was "very positive".

"It was fantastic to work with Members across the Chamber before this important vote. This new law is now due to come into force in September.

"We've continued to seek assurances from the Welsh Government that rescue organisations will still be able to rehome puppies and kittens rescued from situations of abandonment, cruelty and neglect - and there were some positive words on this from the Minister, but we await further clarity and look forward to working with the Welsh Government and local authorities on this as the new law becomes a reality.

"Wales is the centre of dog breeding in the UK, many of which are bred under poor existing standards, so we welcome changes to law which mandate anyone who commercially sells an animal has to meet minimum welfare standards.

"This new law will not be a panacea to improving puppy and kitten welfare - but we hope will be the next step in a journey of improving the welfare of puppies and kittens in Wales."