More than 150 million cats and dogs are kept in the EU. The EU Commission has now proposed uniform regulations for their breeding and keeping for the first time. There should also be new rules for the transport of animals for slaughter.
The EU Commission has presented measures for more animal protection. Specifically, it wants to better regulate the trade and keeping of dogs and cats and shorten the duration of animal transport. “Some facilities keep dogs and cats in particularly poor conditions, neglect or mistreat the animals, sell them too young or do not provide the correct vaccination and medical treatment,” the Brussels authority said.
These would be the first uniform EU standards for commercial breeding and keeping of animals. They provide for obligations for breeders, pet shops and animal shelters. The Commission’s proposal will now be negotiated and adjusted by the European Parliament and EU states before new rules can come into force.
Prohibition of kennels and mutilation
Specifically, the Commission proposes that a minimum amount of space, a ban on kennels, regulated access to daylight and free range, temperature limits for housing or basic rules for feeding could become minimum standards across the EU. In addition, inbreeding as well as painful mutilations – such as cutting off parts of the tail or ears – could be banned.
72 million dogs and 83 million cats
According to the Commission, more than 72 million dogs and 83 million cats are kept in the EU. However, the new requirements should not apply to private individuals.
It is estimated that the animal trade generates annual sales of around 1.3 billion euros. “Illegal puppy trade is a crime against animal protection and also poses risks to our health,” said Peter Liese (CDU), health policy spokesman for the Christian Democratic EPP group. According to experts, 80 percent of the animals that came from illegal trade have diseases because they were not vaccinated, not treated and not examined. “This also endangers all of our health. Some of them are mafia-like structures and we finally have to take action against them,” said Liese.
Shorter transport times for slaughter animals
There should also be new regulations for animal transport – for example in agriculture. Above all, these should be shorter. The Brussels authority suggested, among other things, that journeys to the butcher should last a maximum of nine hours. So far there is no time limit for such trips. Transports to a destination other than a slaughterhouse should be limited to a maximum of 21 hours, with a break of at least one hour after ten hours. The Commission is talking about the biggest reform of the rules for animal transport in 20 years.
The Commission also proposes further steps to implement the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Fur-free Europe”. This calls for an EU ban on fur farming and the sale of products containing such fur.
Özdemir calls for more animal protection during slaughter
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) welcomed the Commission’s proposals for pets and animal transport. “Animal protection during transport must not stop at national borders,” he explained in Berlin. However, it is regrettable that the Commission has not presented any proposals for greater animal protection in keeping and slaughtering.