Answer given by Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the Commission
6.2.2015
The killing of dogs in the context mentioned in the question of the Honourable Member is not subject to any EU animal welfare legislation. Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) requires that the Union and the Member States must pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals in formulating and implementing certain of the Union's policies as listed in that Article[1]. There is no evidence that the killing of dogs in the context concerned would fall within the scope of one of those policies.
When dogs are used for scientific purposes, the killing must be performed in compliance with the relevant EU rules[2]. However, the killing reported here does not fall within the scope of this legislation.
Consequently, as the matter falls within the competences of the Member States, the Commission is not planning to take any measures as mentioned by the Honourable Member in questions 1 and 2.
- [1] Those are the Union's agriculture, fisheries, transport, internal market, research and technological development and space policies.
- [2] Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22.9.2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes (OJ L 276, 20.10.2010, p. 33).