Against electric necklaces, mutilations or consanguinity, European deputies have largely approved, Thursday, June 19, a text fixing minimum protective rules concerning the breeding of dogs and cats in the European Union.
With 82 million cats and 72 million dogs, and faced with the resurgence of traffic, the European Union has decided to better control this market valued at 1.3 billion euros per year.
The draft text adopted, by 457 votes for, 17 against and 86 abstentions, establishes minimum criteria of well-being in farms, shelters and points of sale: food, space, cleanliness, ban on cruel practices …
Strengthen the fight against animal trafficking
It also forces, at the time of the sale of a dog or a cat, to identify it with a subcutaneous micropuce-an obligation already in force in most of the member states-to record it in a database available everywhere in the EU. All dogs will have to be identified after five years, and all cats after ten years.
The objective is in particular to fight dog trafficking from European countries such as Romania and Bulgaria, pointed out by animal defense associations.
Mutilations (cut the tail or ears, remove the vocal cords, etc.) will be prohibited in almost all cases, as well as the electric, stranglers or tips. Animal breeding to accentuate certain physical characteristics so exaggerated that animals suffer (too short legs, too flat noses, etc.) must also be prohibited, just like the use of these animals for shows or competitions.
The text also prohibits consanguinity to the crosses grandparents/grandchildren and between half-brothers and sisters, with rare exceptions, to preserve local species with low genetic diversity.
Exemptions that arouse debate
If the text was validated by a large majority, its adoption was not certain before examining the text. The fact that he was defended by the elected Czech Veronika Vrecionova, of the conservative group and European reformists, classified in the far right, notably crinized teeth on the left.
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The Parliament Agriculture Commission, more attentive to “Excessive regulations”had introduced several amendments, some of which criticized by animal rights defenders, because creating too many exemptions. Small farms are indeed exempt from part of the obligations. In plenary, however, an amendment has lowered the threshold from which this exemption applies, passing it from three litters per year to two. Another amendment, prohibiting the exhibition of cats and dogs in pet stores, has been adopted.
“Overall, the plenary vote has strengthened the text that was proposed”welcomed the Agency France-Presse Christophe Marie, director of European affairs at the 30 Million Friends Foundation.
Animal defenders regret other exemptions: the ban on mutilation is softened for hunting dogs, coercive necklaces (electric, etc.), although prohibited, can always be used for the dressing of police, soldiers or customs, etc.
Concerns about online sales
“This text, he lays down bases that are interesting, but he is not going to the end of things and he does not attack the real causes of overcrowding and abandonment”deplored Christophe Marie. This manager especially regrets the weakness of regulation for online announcements, which concern 60 % of sales of dogs and cats, according to the European Commission.
Only the person who publishes an announcement engages their responsibility, not the platforms on which they appear. “This is really very problematic”estimates Mr. Marie, for whom online sale “Bring a very large number of abandonments”.
New negotiations are starting now, since the text must now be validated by the member states to enter into force.
Source: Lemonde