Document type: answer to a question published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française
Authors: question: Corinne Vignon (Haute-Garonne (3rd District) - Ensemble pour la République). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.
Question: Ms. Corinne Vignon draws the attention of the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry to the implementation of the national plan to improve the welfare of companion animals, published in May 2024 by the Minister, Marc Fesneau. This plan, described as a roadmap to strengthen the fight against pet abandonment and abuse, officially confirms the concerns on which progress is desirable and for which action by the state is required. This plan is the result of a careful process of consultation with stakeholders, and aims to bring together and coordinate the resources of the various ministries involved. She would like to know what actions are now to be taken to follow this clear roadmap in the realm of pet protection, and what logistical and financial resources will be allocated to make the speediest use of the various levers identified in the plan.
Answer: The government has been committed to animal welfare for several years, in response to a strong and legitimate societal expectation, and condemns all acts of animal abuse, whether on farms, in abattoirs or in private homes. To this end, since 2020 and thanks to the France Relance plan, more than 36 million euros have been granted to animal protection associations and veterinary practices. Similarly, since the adoption of the law to combat animal abuse of November 30, 2021, four implementing decrees and six ministerial orders have been published to enable the strengthening of training for staff in contact with pets, of the provision of information to new buyers, of the monitoring of animal identification in online selling, and of the penalties for acts of abuse. To maintain the positive momentum created by Government actions, a plan devoted to the welfare of companion animals was announced on May 22, 2024. The government's national monitoring committee, chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, brings together four ministries, industry professionals and civil society players, to ensure that its actions are properly coordinated. For the State, the aim is to support and achieve the best outcomes for current and future initiatives in three areas: preventing and combating pet abandonment; improving the management of stray dogs and cats; and preventing and combating pet abuse. To achieve these, the plan is structured around concrete measures that contribute to five key areas: understanding the current situation and identifying levers for action; informing, asking questions and training; facilitating synergies between players involved in animal protection; increasing the protections provided by the regulations; and renewing and refreshing funding mechanisms. The first priority of this plan is to better characterize and objectify situations of abandonment, straying and abuse, and to produce reliable and accurate statistics. In this respect, the expert involvement of the Observatory for the Protection of Domestic Carnivores and the centralization of data relating to the above issues on a single platform will enable the public authorities to make informed decisions. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture will make it easier for professionals and private individuals to take on board their new regulatory obligations, notably through a program for the responsible acquisition of pets, and by launching fresh communication campaigns on the fight against abandonment and abuse, on the sterilization and identification of animals, and on access to aninal care for those less able to pay. In addition, the Ministry will endeavor to integrate these concerns into animal-related vocational training courses. If these measures are to be effectively implemented, synergies between the various actors involved in animal protection will need to be facilitated, in particular through the establishment of an interministerial governance structure setting out the roles of the different bodies.
Within this framework, the Ministry of Agriculture steers public policies relating to the protection of domestic animals, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion is concerned with those relating to wild animals, while the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas Territories oversees the suppression of animal abuse and trafficking, and supports the other ministries in the application of legal procedures, under the control of the Ministry of Justice. As part of this framework, an interministerial training course on combating animal abuse has been developed for all agents involved, including law enforcement officers, and will go online in Autumn 2024. In addition, the "Ma sécurité" platform, run by the Ministry of the Interior, will be consolidated, to become the preferred centralized tool for reports of abuse sent to government departments. Similarly, discussions will be held with animal protection associations to identify ways of professionalizing local associations in terms of training in best practices and regulatory provisions. Last, the Ministry of Agriculture will increase its efforts to raise awareness among Mayors of the need to prevent the straying of animals and to manage pounds. The aim will also be to increase the protections provided by current regulations, on the one hand by assessing the application of the Animal Abuse Act of 2021 and on the other by updating the April 3, 2014 decree framing pet-related activities. In addition, a change in European legislation is underway, under the impetus of the French government, with the European Commission's proposal on December 7, 2023, on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats placed on the European market. The French government has played an active role in the European discussions on this draft regulation, putting forward strong measures such as a ban on the use of electric collars, tail docking and the prolonged use of muzzles in places where animals are kept. This draft regulation is currently being debated by the European Parliament. The French State is ready to renew the funding mechanisms implemented under previous Finance Acts, notably for the sterilization of stray animals and financial assistance to local authorities for this purpose, through the creation of a special fund entitled "France protection animale", designed to collect future donations from companies. Several actions under this plan have already been completed, are underway, or are planned for the near future, notably that to introduce greater responsibility in pet purchases. Under the law of November 30, 2021 to combat animal abuse and strengthen the bond between animals and people, pet shops have, since January 1, 2024, no longer been allowed to sell dogs and cats in their establishments, whether for payment or free of charge. They may, however, offer cats and dogs belonging to animal protection foundations or associations, in the presence of volunteers from the said foundations or associations. The last paragraph of Section VI of Article L. 214-8 of the French Rural and Maritime Fishing Code allows pet shops to sell pets online for a fee. A forthcoming revision of the Order of April 3, 2014 laying down the health and animal protection rules with which activities related to pets of domestic species must comply will provide a more precise framework for dog and cat holding premises in this instance. Given the time required to revise this decree, a transitional period is currently underway, during which flexibility is permitted with regard to the housing of dogs and cats by pet shops for online sales. During this period, however, animals must continue to be kept in facilities that comply with health and animal protection regulations. In the event of non-compliance with current regulations, inspectors may be required to issue a formal notice (...)
