European Parliament resolution of 25 February 2016 on the introduction of compatible systems for the registration of pet animals across Member States (2016/2540(RSP))
Date: 2016-02-25
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, animal disease, animal welfare, domestic animal, illicit trade, information system, pet shop, protection of animals, veterinary inspection, veterinary medicine








C_2018035EN.01013901.xml










31.1.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 35/139





P8_TA(2016)0065
Introduction of compatible systems for the registration of pet animals across Member States
European Parliament resolution of 25 February 2016 on the introduction of compatible systems for the registration of pet animals across Member States (2016/2540(RSP))
(2018/C 035/24)

The European Parliament,






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having regard to the Commission statement of 4 February 2016 on the introduction of compatible systems for the registration of pet animals across Member States,










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having regard to Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) on the functioning of the Common Agricultural Policy,










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having regard to Article 114 TFEU on the establishment and functioning of the single market,










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having regard to Article 168(4)(b) TFEU on measures in the veterinary and phytosanitary fields,










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having regard to Article 169 TFEU on consumer protection measures,










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having regard to Article 13 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,










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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, 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,










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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,










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having regard to its position of 15 April 2014 on the proposal for a regulation on animal health (1),










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having regard to the conclusions of the 3 050th Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting of 29 November 2010 on the welfare of dogs and cats,










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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,










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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 the trade therein and amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006,










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having regard to its resolution of 19 May 2015 on safer healthcare in Europe: improving patient safety and fighting antimicrobial resistance (2),










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having regard to the study conclusions from the Companion Animals Multisectorial Interprofessional and Interdisciplinary Strategic Think Tank on Zoonoses (CALLISTO),










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having regard to the first outcome of the EU study on dogs and cats involved in commercial practices conducted in 12 Member States, pursuant to the Commission statement attached to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013,










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having regard to Rule 123(2) and (4) of its Rules of Procedure,










A.


whereas the Commission has funded a study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices;










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, including wild and exotic animals, is linked to serious and organised crime according to non-governmental organisations, law enforcement agencies and competent authorities;










D.


whereas, despite recent improvements, major concerns still remain in terms of the information provided in Pet Passports, particularly as regards how the age given for an individual animal can be proved to be accurate;










E.


whereas pet animals that are traded illegally are often badly bred, poorly socialised and at increased risk of disease, and 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 many zoonoses, including rabies;










F.


whereas the majority of Member States already have some level of requirements for the registration and/or identification of pet animals; whereas most of these databases are not yet compatible and there is limited traceability when pets are moved throughout the EU;










G.


whereas compatible requirements for the identification and registration of pet animals would be a significant step forward in the protection of animal welfare and public and animal health, and would provide for effective intra-Union traceability of pet animals;










H.


whereas some Member States (the Netherlands and Belgium) already have positive lists for the keeping and/or selling of pet animals;












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 from the Animal Health Law once 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 lack of vaccination, appropriate antiviral treatment and veterinary and sanitary care among illegally traded pets often results in the need to treat them with antibiotics; underlines that this increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance;












5.


Notes with concern the growing trade, both legal and illegal, in wild animals commonly kept as pets; notes that keeping wild animals as pets significantly compromises individual animal welfare and puts human health and safety at risk; notes that the trade has serious conservation implications for the species subject to wild capture to supply the trade; calls on the Commission to adopt robust and effective measures to tackle the illegal trade in pets, including wild animals kept as pets;












6.


Notes 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 over the information held;












7.


Notes that compatible systems of identification and registration requirements for dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis silvestris catus) would reduce the scope for document falsification and illegal trading, thus improving animal welfare, protecting public and animal health and providing for effective intra-Union traceability;












8.


Calls on the Commission, upon the entry into force of the Regulation on Transmissible Animal Diseases (Animal Health Law), to adopt a delegated act forthwith, laying down rules pursuant to Articles 109 and 118 of the regulation concerning detailed, compatible systems for the means and methods of identification and registration of dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and cats (Felis silvestris catus); underlines that the personal data of owners and sellers of pet animals should be respected in line with the relevant EU legal standards on personal data protection;












9.


Calls on the Commission, upon the entry into force of the Regulation on Transmissible Animal Diseases, to consider adopting delegated acts laying down rules pursuant to Articles 109 and 118 of the regulation concerning detailed, compatible systems for the means and methods of identification and registration of pet animals, as defined by Annex 1 of the same regulation;












10.


Urges the Commission to publish without delay the conclusions of the study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices;












11.


Believes that a compatible system for the identification and registration of pets across the EU will have wider benefits than just tackling illegal trade alone; believes that these benefits include tracing the source of disease outbreaks and addressing animal abuse and other animal welfare concerns;












12.


Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.






(1)  Texts adopted, P7_TA(2014)0381.

(2)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2015)0197.