Puppy smuggling

20.8.2015

Question for written answer E-012114-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Siôn Simon (S&D)

In November 2014, Dogs Trust published the findings of an undercover investigation into the illegal smuggling of puppies from eastern Europe into the UK for sale. The investigation revealed that commercial dealers in Lithuania and Hungary were aided and abetted by unscrupulous vets who were prepared to issue pet passports with falsified data. In its response to Written Question E-007133/2015 on this issue, the Commission stated that because Lithuania and Hungary had taken the appropriate measures to enforce proper implementation of EC law, the Commission has not envisaged any further measures to resolve compliance issues with EU legislation on pet movement.

A second investigation by Dogs Trust has now been published (in July 2015), and this time the investigators entered Romania and Lithuania. Again, evidence was found of breeders, dealers and vets exploiting EU legislation to illegally import puppies into the UK for commercial purposes.

Can the Commission detail the measures it intends to take as a result of this additional evidence to resolve compliance issues with Regulation (EU) No 576/2013?

Will measures be taken which apply across the Member States, rather than solely in Romania and Lithuania?