European Commission wants to curb illegal trade in dogs and cats Venezuela wants to annex parts of Guyana – that is the current status

The European Commission wants to curb the illegal trade in dogs and cats. This should improve the protection of these animals.

“Some institutions keep dogs and cats in particularly poor conditions, neglect or abuse the animals, sell them too young or do not provide proper vaccinations and medical treatment,” the Brussels authority said on Thursday. These would be the first uniform EU standards for commercial animal breeding and keeping.

In concrete terms, the Commission proposes that a minimum amount of space, a ban on kennels, regulated access to daylight and free range, temperature limits for housing or basic rules on nutrition could become minimum standards across the EU. In addition, inbreeding and painful mutilations – such as cutting off parts of the tail or ears – could be banned. The new requirements should not apply to private individuals.

The Commission’s proposal will now be negotiated and amended by the European Parliament and EU countries before new rules can come into force. According to the Commission, citizens in the European Union own more than 72 million dogs and 83 million cats. It is estimated that the trade in the two animals generates an annual turnover of around 1.3 billion euros (1.2 billion Swiss francs). (sda/awp/dpa)