Document type : Article published in Le Monde
Author: Le Monde, with AFP
Preview: For this document to enter into law, there must still be a vote in the Senate. The government has made known its opposition to this ban, preferring to establish a regulation system at the point of sale.
Will cats and dogs soon no longer be found in pet shops? The French National Assembly voted at first reading on Wednesday, January 27, to prohibit their sale in such shops from 2024, and has created a regulatory framework for the online sale of pets, authorising sales by only shelters and breeders.
This ban is motivated by the "weaning at too early a stage of puppies and cats" sold by such outlets, by the sale of animals too frequently supplied by "puppy and kitten factories"" , as well as their "poor socialization", leading to abandonment. There is also a need to restrain impulse buying in these shops. If implemented, this ban will apply to dogs and cats, but not to smaller pet mammals such as rabbits or guinea pigs.
To pass into law, this text, which is the result of an amendment by the LRM and Agir rapporteurs to the majority bill against animal cruelty, still has to be approved by the French senate.
The Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie spoke against this amendment, highlighting the jobs involved in pet shops and garden centres, as well as the inspection system in operation. It is necessary to "fight the battles in order", he also stated in justification, seeking rather to address first sales "from the back of the lorry". In line with this, he supported an amendment by the LRM group led by Aurore Bergé limiting online sales to professionals and shelters, in order to combat black market sales. Gifts of animals will however continue to be allowed.
Mr Denormandie considered this form of regulation preferable to the outright ban on the sale of animals online other than on specialised sites proposed by MEPs from all sides, including the former LRM parliamentarian Cédric Villani and the "rebel" Bastien Lachaud. The general rapporteur Loïc Dombreval (LRM) unsuccessfully supported this proposal, pointing out the large number of false professionals who advertise and the difficulties in regulatory control. "This causes difficulties for professional breeders," he said.
Article on the same subject published in Libération on January 28, 2021: L’Assemblée adopte l’interdiction de la vente de chats et de chiens en animaleries
