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ICAWC 2015 - Claire Calder - EU Activity Update
The EU Dog & Cat Alliance, launched in 2014, comprises 53 welfare organizations advocating for better protection of dogs and cats across Europe. Key activities in its first year included meetings with MEPs, national governments, and the launch of a national legislation report highlighting issues like breeding regulations and puppy smuggling. Ongoing investigations into puppy smuggling have revealed persistent problems, prompting recommendations for stricter regulations on breeding and the sale of pets.
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ICAWC 2015 - Claire Calder - EU Activity Update
- 1. EU Activity Update ClaireCalder Dogs Trust / EU Dog & Cat Alliance
- 2. • Launched atICAWC 2014 • Alliance of 53 dog and cat welfare organisations from 19 EU countries – but this is growing all the time! • Together we are calling for EU action to protect dogs and cats
- 5. First year ata glance • Met with 46 MEPs or assistants • Met with national governments in Brussels, including UK, Ireland, Luxembourg, Belgium and Romania • Met with the cabinet of the European Commissioner with responsibility for animal welfare
- 6. First year ata glance • Launched a ground-breaking report on national legislation across the EU • Held our 1st event in the European Parliament • Tabled several Parliamentary Questions • Lobbied on Puppy Smuggling, Veterinary Medicines and Medicated Feed
- 7. EU Study onDogs and Cats • 1 year study to assess whether the EU should take initiatives to protect the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices. • Started in February 2014 • 12 EU Member States surveyed • Due to report imminently
- 8. National legislation report www.dogandcatwelfare.eu/national-legislation Collatesthe national legislation on: • Identification & registration • Breeding • Trade • Surgical mutilations In all 28 EU Member States
- 9. National legislation report- findings • I&R of dogs compulsory in 19 Member States, rising to 23 Member States in 2016. • I&R of cats only compulsory in 2 Member States (France and Greece) • Commercial breeders need to registered and/or licensed in most Member States but definition of ‘commercial breeder’ varies widely
- 10. National legislation report- findings • Inspection of breeding establishments before breeding starts only required in 12 Member States • Only 6 Member States have provisions on socialisation of puppies and kittens • Sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops allowed in 20 Member States • No minimum age for sale of puppies and kittens in 8 and 10 Member States respectively
- 11. National legislation report- findings • The vast majority of Member States don’t regulate the online sale of dogs and cats • In some Member States dog and cat trade is not regulated at all • Tail docking of dogs in some circumstances is permitted in 13 Member States
- 12. National legislation report– EU recommendations • Compulsory I&R of dogs and cats on an appropriate database, linked to an EU database • Compulsory licensing of dog and cat breeders by Member States and harmonised EU standards for breeding • Ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, markets, shows and on the street • Controls on online sale of dogs and cats
- 13. National legislation reportvideo Please click the following link to view the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drLF9m-MLe0
- 14. National legislation report www.dogandcatwelfare.eu/national-legislation •Full report and Executive Summary can be downloaded from Alliance website • Interactive map allows users to click on a Member State for a summary of that country
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- 18. Puppy Smuggling • November2014: first Dogs Trust investigation into illegal smuggling of puppies from Eastern Europe into Great Britain for sale • Exposed vets and transporters in Hungary and Lithuania abusing the EU legislation on non- commercial pet movement • Unscrupulous European vets caught on camera creating false pet passports and fake rabies vaccination records
- 19. Puppy Smuggling –EU actions • Shared report with MEPs, national governments in Brussels and the European Commission • Tabled 4 Parliamentary Questions • Response from Commission = the problems will be solved by new EU rules on non- commercial pet movement which came into force in December 2014
- 20. Puppy Smuggling –2nd investigation • July 2015: findings from 2nd Dogs Trust puppy smuggling investigation released • This time, focussed on Lithuania and Romania • Investigation took place after new EU legislation on pet movement came into force
- 21. Puppy Smuggling –2nd investigation • Result = new EU legislation has not solved the problems • Vets in Lithuania and Romania were found to be falsifying data on pet passports • Breeders and dealers were found to be supplying young puppies under the legal age for vaccination against rabies, with dates of birth faked on pet passports
- 22. Puppy Smuggling –EU actions • Second report sent to all 751 MEPs, national governments in Brussels and the European Commission • Tabled 2 further Parliamentary Questions • Result = acknowledgement of the issues from the European Commission and commitment to review the situation
- 24. Veterinary Medicines andMedicated Feed • Proposals for new EU legislation on Veterinary Medicines and Medicated Feed released in 2014 • Medicated Feed – would allow dogs and cats to be medicated via pet food • Veterinary Medicines – aims to increase the availability of veterinary medicinal products across the EU
- 25. Veterinary Medicines andMedicated Feed • EU Dog & Cat Alliance has agreed a position on both proposals and has been actively lobbying for improvements • Our positions are available at: www.dogandcatwelfare.eu/issues
- 26. Find out more www.dogandcatwelfare.eu @EUdogsandcatsand #EUpetwelfare info@dogandcatwelfare.eu
Editor's Notes
- #4 The EU Dog & Cat Alliance now represents 53 dog and cat welfare organisations in 19 EU countries. Ask audience members that are members of the Alliance to stand up.
- #5 We are looking for members in 9 countries: Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary., the Czech Republic and Cyprus
- #8 Last year, the European Commission funded a 1-year study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices. However, the study only included 12 of the 28 EU Member States.
- #9 To contribute much needed evidence to the debate, the Alliance commissioned a ground-breaking piece of research to collate information on the national legislation on dog and cat breeding and trade in all 28 Member States. The research was based around 4 key areas: identification and registration; breeding; trade and surgical mutilations. A summary was drafted for each EU Member State, which was then verified by the Competent Authority in that country, or if this wasn’t possible, a trusted animal welfare organisation from that country.
- #10 3 countries have regional rules on I&R of cats
- #15 An interactive map on the Alliance website allows viewers to click on each country to download a summary for that country. The full report is also available at this link, which collates all of the findings and makes a series of recommendations for EU action.
- #25 In 2014 European Commission published a proposal for a new Regulation on Medicated Feed which for the first time explicitly includes dogs and cats within the scope. If adopted, it would allow medicated pet food to be produced for dogs and cats. At the same time, the Commission also published a proposal for a new Regulation on Veterinary Medicinal Products. This aims to increase the availability of veterinary medicinal products across the EU.