MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the harmonisation of identification and registration requirements for pet animals for the purposes of the protection of public and animal health
17.2.2016 - (2016/2540(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 123(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Jasenko Selimovic on behalf of the ALDE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0251/2016
B8-0251/2016
European Parliament resolution on the harmonisation of identification and registration requirements for pet animals for the purposes of the protection of public and animal health
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) on the functioning of the Common Agricultural Policy,
– having regard to Article 114 of the TFEU on the establishment and functioning of the single market,
– having regard to Article 168(4)(b) of the TFEU on measures in the veterinary and phytosanitary fields,
– having regard to Article 169 of the TFEU on consumer protection measures,
– having regard to Article 13 of the TFEU, which stipulates that, in formulating and implementing the Union’s policies, the Union and the Member States shall, since animals are sentient beings, pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals,
– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals[1], and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 of 28 June 2013 on the model identification documents for the non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets, the establishment of lists of territories and third countries and the format, layout and language requirements of the declarations attesting compliance with certain conditions provided for in Regulation (EU) No 576/2013[2],
– having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC[3],
– having regard to its resolution of 15 April 2014 on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on animal health[4],
– having regard to the conclusions of the 3050th Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting of 29 November 2010 on the welfare of dogs and cats,
– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein[5],
– having regard to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 792/2012 of 23 August 2012 laying down rules for the design of permits, certificates and other documents provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006[6],
– having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species[7],
– having regard to the Joint Declaration on Animal Welfare by Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands of 14 December 2014,
– having regard to its resolution of 19 May 2015 on safer healthcare in Europe: improving patient safety and fighting antimicrobial resistance[8],
– having regard to the study conclusions from the Companion Animals Multisectorial Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Strategic Think Tank on Zoonoses (CALLISTO),
– having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the Commission funded a study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices, which was published in 2015;
B. whereas non-governmental organisations, law enforcement agencies, competent authorities and veterinarians have shown evidence of a growing illegal trade in pet animals, with widespread abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme, evasion of controls and document falsification;
C. whereas the illegal trade in pets has been increasingly linked to serious and organised crime by non-governmental organisations, law enforcement agencies and competent authorities;
D. whereas, despite recent improvements, major concerns still remain with regard to the information provided for pet passports, namely how the respective age of an individual animal can be proven to be accurate;
E. whereas the border-free Schengen Area provides for passport-free travel for citizens between Member States and therefore also facilitates the control-free intra-Union travel of animals commonly kept as pets;
F. whereas pet animals that are traded illegally are often badly bred, poorly socialised and at increased risk of disease;
G. whereas 70 % of the new diseases that have emerged in humans over recent decades are of animal origin, and animals commonly kept as pets are carrier hosts of over 100 zoonoses, including rabies;
H. whereas not all Member States currently have a sufficient level of requirements for the registration and/or identification of pet animals;
I. whereas the escape of exotic or wild animals into an environment without their natural enemies can lead to the uncontrolled spread of a species, which may have negative effects on the respective local environment, public health and the economy at large;
J. whereas illegal trade in wild animals is one of the largest transnationally organised criminal activities worldwide;
1. Underlines the positive contribution that pet animals make to the lives of millions of individual owners and families across the EU, and reaffirms that owners should be able to travel with their pets in a safe, controlled manner throughout the Union;
2. Welcomes the improvements to the Pet Travel Scheme introduced by Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, including the added security features contained in the pet passport, and the further improvements which will follow once the Animal Health Law has been adopted by the co-legislators;
3. Notes with concern the evidence from non-governmental organisations, law enforcement agencies, competent authorities and veterinarians that clearly demonstrates the growing illegal abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme, which is being exploited for commercial purposes;
4. Notes that the low rate of vaccination among illegally traded pets often means that they have to be treated with antibiotics; underlines that this increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance among pets; is concerned that this is an additional risk factor for the development and transmission of antimicrobial resistance in human beings;
5. Recognises that while many Member States have mandatory systems for the identification and registration of pet animals, there are discrepancies as regards the type of information held, the animals covered by the identification and registration requirements, and the level of governance at which the information is held;
6. Believes that proper identification and registration requirements for dogs (canis lupus familiaris) and cats (felis silvestris catus) would reduce the scope for document falsification and illegal trade, thus protecting public and animal health and providing for effective intra-Union traceability;
7. Notes with concern the growing illegal trade in wild animals commonly kept as pets;
8. Believes that proper identification and registration requirements for wild animals commonly kept as pets would reduce the scope for illegal trade, better protect public and animal health and biodiversity, and also provide for effective intra-Union traceability;
9. Calls on the Commission, upon entry into force of the Animal Health Law, to adopt a delegated act forthwith, laying down rules pursuant to Article 109 of the Regulation concerning the obligation for Member States – if deemed necessary – to establish and maintain a computer database for the identification and registration of dogs (canis lupus familiaris) and cats (felis silvestris catus), owing to the specific and significant risks posed by these species, in order to ensure efficient disease prevention and control measures and to facilitate the traceability of these animals, their movements between Member States and their entry into the Union;
10. Calls on the Commission to explore the additional measures to combat the illegal trade in pet animals contained in the conclusions of the study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices, and to publish those conclusions without delay;
11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.
- [1] OJ L 178, 28.6.2013, p. 1.
- [2] OJ L 178, 28.6.2013, p. 109.
- [3] OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.
- [4] Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0381.
- [5] OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1.
- [6] OJ L 242, 7.9.2012, p. 13.
- [7] OJ L 317, 4.11.2014, p. 35.
- [8] Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0197.