Document type: press conference announcement published by the OABA
Author: OABA
Preview: Faced with the rise in animal abuse, a number of animal protection associations, including the Fondation Brigitte Bardot, Co&xister and OABA (Œuvre d'Assistance aux Bêtes d'Abattoirs), are taking on responsibility for what are known as "production" animals at the request of governmental or judicial authorities. (...) Gabriel Amard, a French Deputy, has tabled a simple and practical legislative proposal that would give livestock animals that are no longer part of the food chain the status of companion animals, thus enabling them to be cared for within a legal framework and avoiding government euthanasia. The dual legal status of "livestock" and "companion animals" already exists for rabbits and, to a certain extent, for horses, proving that it is legally possible for a single species to have two distinct legal statuses. As the field of food safety is largely defined by the European Union framework, the legislative vehicle chosen is that of a proposed European resolution (PPRE), which will be considered by the French National Assembly before the end of 2025.
The proposal includes:
- Irreversible exclusion from the food chain for animals adopted by sanctuaries or private individuals. This exclusion will rule out any health risk associated with the administration of unauthorized treatments for livestock, as is already the case for horses.
- Authorization to prescribe medicines or courses of treatment without being subject to the constraints associated with the standards in force for animals destined for human consumption.
- An alternative identification system to complement or replace ear tags in order to prevent fraud.
- The introduction of appropriate and relevant veterinary control criteria for facilities hosting these animals.
Adoption of the proposal could also encourage the inclusion in veterinary curricula of training modules on individual animals of this type as well as approaching them as whole populations, thus opening up new opportunities for professional activity. The Deputy stresses that the scope of the proposal is limited to animals already removed from the agri-food chain, and in no way affects the livestock farming sector. (...)
Other countries such as Italy and Spain have already put regulations in place for animals in sanctuaries. If the PPRE is adopted, France will be one of the first countries to make this change, and the rules will be harmonized at European level.
A press conference is being organized by Gabriel Amard, Member of the French National Assembly, in the presence of associations who support the plan, on Tuesday November 4 at 4:30 pm.
Location: Assemblée Nationale, 126 rue de l'Université 75007 Paris - Salle des conférences de presse (next to the Salle des 4 colonnes).
Download the press release (pdf)
