The Dangerous Dogs (Exemption Schemes) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Order 2026

Statutory Instruments

2026 No. 602

Dogs, England And Wales

The Dangerous Dogs (Exemption Schemes) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Order 2026

Made

8th June 2026

Laid before Parliament

9th June 2026

Coming into force

Parts 1 to 3 (except articles 2(5)(a) and 3(2)(a)) and Part 4

1st July 2026

Articles 2(5)(a) and 3(2)(a)

1st November 2026

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1(5) and (6) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991(1).

PART 1 Preliminary

Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Dangerous Dogs (Exemption Schemes) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Order 2026.

(2) This Order comes into force on 1st July 2026, subject as follows.

(3) Articles 2(5)(a) and 3(2)(a) come into force on 1st November 2026.

(4) This Order extends to England and Wales.

PART 2 Amendment of the Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015

Amendment of the Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015

2.—(1) The Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015(2) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 4 (exemption scheme conditions and requirements)—

(a) in paragraph (2)—

(i) insert “and” after sub-paragraph (b);

(ii) omit sub-paragraph (c) and the “and” after it;

(b) in paragraph (3), in the words before sub-paragraph (a), omit “, 8”.

(3) Omit article 8 (third-party insurance).

(4) In article 9 (issue of certificate of exemption), in paragraph (1)(c), for “, 7(1) and 8(1)” substitute “and 7(1)”.

(5) In article 10 (requirements attached to certificate of exemption), in paragraph (1)—

(a) after sub-paragraph (f), insert—

“(fa) to ensure that the dog does not come into close contact with a child under the age of 12 in any place, other than a public place, unless the dog or the child is being supervised by a person (whether the holder of the certificate or some other person) who is over the age of 18;”;

(b) omit sub-paragraph (h).

(6) In article 18 (issue of certificate of exemption to the applicant), in paragraph (1)—

(a) insert “and” after sub-paragraph (a);

(b) omit sub-paragraph (c) and the “and” before it.

(7) In article 22 (interim exemption scheme conditions and requirements), in paragraph (1)(a), omit paragraph (iii).

(8) In article 25 (additional requirements), omit paragraph (c).

PART 3 Amendment of the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (England and Wales) Order 2023

Amendment of the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (England and Wales) Order 2023

3.—(1) The Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (England and Wales) Order 2023(3) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 7 (certificate of exemption), in paragraph (c)—

(a) after sub-paragraph (vi), insert—

“(via) to ensure that the dog does not come into close contact with a child under the age of 12 in any place, other than a public place, unless the dog or the child is being supervised by a person (whether the holder of the certificate or some other person) who is over the age of 18;”;

(b) omit sub-paragraph (viii).

(3) Omit article 8 (third-party insurance).

PART 4 Amendment of the Dangerous Dogs (Exemption Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) (England and Wales) Order 2023

4.—(1) The Dangerous Dogs (Exemption Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) (England and Wales) Order 2023(4) is amended as follows.

(2) In article 5 (certificate of exemption), in paragraph (c), omit sub-paragraph (ix).

(3) Omit article 6 (third-party insurance).

Hayman of Ullock

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

8th June 2026

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the following Orders which make provision for the exemption from the prohibition in section 1(3) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (c. 65)—

(a) the Dangerous Dogs Exemption Schemes (England and Wales) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/138) (“the 2015 Order”);

(b) the Dangerous Dogs (Compensation and Exemption Schemes) (England and Wales) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1204) (“the first 2023 Order”); and

(c) the Dangerous Dogs (Exemption Schemes and Miscellaneous Provisions) (England and Wales) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1407) (“the second 2023 Order”).

Part 2 (except article 2(5)(a)) makes provision to remove requirements in relation to third-party insurance in the 2015 Order. Article 2(2) and (4) removes the condition, as from 1st July 2026, for the owner or person in charge of a dog who is applying for a certificate of exemption to have third-party insurance in place in respect of the dog. Article 2(3) makes provision to remove the requirements on holders of certificates of exemption issued under the 2015 Order to maintain third-party insurance in respect of exempt dogs from 1st July 2026. Article 2(5)(b), (6), (7) and (8) make provision to remove the requirements to be included in certificates of exemption issued under article 10 of the 2015 Order and the requirements in relation to third-party insurance in Parts 3 and 4 of the 2015 Order.

Parts 3 and 4 (except article 3(2)(a)) make provision to remove requirements in relation to third party insurance in the first 2023 Order and the second 2023 Order. Articles 3(2)(b) and 4(2) remove the requirements to be included in certificates of exemption issued under article 7 of the first 2023 Order and article 5 of the second 2023 Order in relation to third-party insurance. Articles 3(3) and 4(3) make provision to remove the requirements on holders of certificates of exemption issued under the first 2023 Order and the second 2023 Order to maintain third-party insurance in respect of exempt dogs from 1st July 2026.

Articles 2(5)(a) and 3(2)(a) insert new requirements to be included in certificates of exemption issued under the 2015 Order and the first 2023 Order for the protection of children under the age of 12.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

(1)

1991 c. 65.

(2)

S.I. 2015/138, amended by S.I. 2023/1407, 2024/1149.

(3)

S.I. 2023/1204, amended by S.I. 2024/1149; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.

(4)

S.I. 2023/1407, amended by S.I. 2024/1149; there are other amending instruments but none is relevant.