1. Dog Trade EU Legislation and Enforcement
„Puppy Trade in Europe
A lack of traceability, threat to the European Market and One Health”
An event organized by VIER PFOTEN International
26 November 2013, European Parliament
Dog Trade EU Legislation and Enforcement
Sophie Duthoit
European Legal Research Officer
VIER PFOTEN / FOUR PAWS European Policy Office
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VIER PFOTEN/FOUR PAWS, European Policy Office
19/11 Avenue de la Renaissance, 1000 Brussels (Belgium)

2. Facts and Figures – Dogs in Europe and in the Worldwide
Source: FEDIAF, 2010
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3. Source: FEDIAF and EUPAW, 2010
Facts and Figures –
Dogs in private households in Europe
Source: FEDIAF and EUPAW, 2010
27% of EU household keep at least one dog.
Italy, France, UK, Germany, Belgium = 63% of pets owned in Europe

4. Facts and Figures – Dogs in private households in Europe
Dog market:
Data are very difficult to collect
Germany: 150,000 of the puppies coming in German households each year are imported
Belgium: On 155,000 registered dogs, more than 30,000 are imported
10,448 came from Slovakia
9,042 came from Czech Republic
2,649 came from Hungary
Illegal Dog Trade: ??? Data are even more difficult to obtain !
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5. What « dog trade » involves ?
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6. Breeders
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7. (Internet or Newspapers)
Sellers
« Puppy Markets »
Petshops
Classified Adds
(Internet or Newspapers)
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8. Retailers
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9. Carriers
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10. Health and Welfare
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11. Buyers (Consumers)
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12. EU Legislation BREEDING TRADE (sellers and advertisement) TRANSPORT
Planned EU Survey on cats and dogs trade (2014)
TRANSPORT
Regulation 1/2005
HEALTH
Directive 92/65 on sanitary requirements
Callisto Project
CONSUMERS PROTECTION
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13. EU Legislation
HEALTH
Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals (…)
Applies only when the dogs cross the borders
Pet Passport with identification and vaccination
Requires a Health Certificate of less than 24 Hours
NO REGISTRATION of the dogs and NO COMMON DATABASE
= NO TRACEABILITY
POLITICAL level: CALLISTO Project about zoonoses affecting companion animals
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14. EU Legislation TRANSPORT
Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations
 Applies to transporters, organisers, drivers and "keepers"
Record of the movement in the TRACES system
8 weeks minimum for dogs to be transported unless puppies are accompanied by their mother
Pet Passport, Vaccination and Chip mandatory
Water every 8 hours and Food every 24 hours
GPS, logbook….
Animals should not be injured or sick
In addition: specific requirements for travels of more than 8 hours
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15. National Legislation (selected examples)
VERY DIVERSE REQUIREMENTS
BREEDING
Some countries are allowing private breeding: France, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Latvia…
TRADE (sellers and advertisement)
Diverse requirements for selling dogs in petshops
Belgium is the only State to have limited the advertisement of trade
TRANSPORT
Requirements of Regulation 1/2005
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16. National Legislation (selected examples)
HEALTH
I&R is mandatory in some States: Belgium, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Greece…
DOG WELFARE
Prohibition of ear cropping and tail docking in several States: Belgium, Croatia, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Lithuania…
CONSUMERS PROTECTION
Some States obliged the seller to respect some requirements (list of redhibitory defects): France, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Greece…
Some States have a special Ombudsman or a special prosecutor to deal with animal welfare issues (Austria, Luxembourg…)
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17. Problem Definition EU LEVEL
NO intra EU borders = no systematic checks of the imports/ exports
NO EU rules covering all aspects of the trade
NO traceability because no mandatory Identification and Registration of dogs, and the TRACES system is not adequate for dog trade
NATIONAL LEVEL:
NO proper enforcement of the transport Regulation and sanitary legislation
NO effective protection of consumers who bought a ill dog
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18. Solution Strategies EU LEVEL
Strict enforcement of the transport and sanitary rules
Legislation on dog and cat trade
Mandatory Identification and Registration of each dog in common compatible databases linked to a European System (such as EuroPetNet)
NATIONAL LEVEL:
Licencing system for breeders
Control of the Internet Trade
Stricter penalties for illegal traders
Consumer awareness
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19. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!
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20. For more Information Please consult
The European Enforcement Network’s website:
Or contact me :
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