European Parliament’s Environment Committee calls for stricter rules for pet movements

Posted on 06/11/2012

Eurogroup welcomes the adoption by MEPs at the Environment Committee meeting today of the draft report by Dr Schnellhardt MEP regarding the non-commercial movement of pet animals. However, we are extremely disappointed that one of our key demands has been rejected: the introduction of a requirement for dogs, cats and ferrets to be registered on an authorised database accessible across the EU.

Eurogroup believes that this would have been a huge step forward for pet welfare in the EU, as identifying animals without the requirement to also register them is of little value.

On a more positive note, the vote took into account many of Eurogroup’s demands and in particular we are very pleased that MEPs have endorsed the inclusion of a maximum limit of five pet animals for non-commercial movements.  We believe that this is a critical amendment in order to minimise the risk of pets fraudulently being moved for trade purposes under this Regulation.

We are also pleased that MEPs voted that young pets that have not been vaccinated against rabies should only be allowed to move between EU member states that are free of rabies.

Also worth noting, the adopted report calls for a model of the pet passport to be contained in the proposed Regulation. It was voted that this should include the contact details of a pet’s previous owners, as well as a description of the animal, which are both positive additions to the proposed Regulation.

Last but not least, the adopted report suggests that the future Regulation allows not only veterinarians but also other competent persons, such as shelter workers, to microchip animals.

Overall, today’s vote sends a clear message to Member States to take into account this draft report, which reflects the concerns of citizens across the EU, in order to ensure that the European Commission’s proposal is improved to better protect both animal and human health throughout the EU. The final adoption of the draft report by the European Parliament plenary is scheduled for their March 2013 meeting.