Document type: answer to question no. 05751 published in the Journal Officiel of the French Senate
Authors: Question: Mr SZCZUREK Christopher (Pas-de-Calais – NI). Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Food Sovereignty
Question: Christopher Szczurek draws the attention of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty to the worrying failure to enforce the ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops, provided for by Law No. 2021-1539 of November 30, 2021, to combat animal abuse and strengthen the bond between animals and humans. Since January 1, 2024, the sale of dogs and cats in shops has been prohibited for establishments selling live animals, in accordance with Article L. 214-6-3 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code. However, many retailers continue to sell these animals by using alternative routes such as online platforms, social media, and in-store pick-up using "click and collect" services. The Fondation 30 Millions d'Amis recently documented these abuses, which it describes as contrary to the spirit and letter of the law. Even more worrying is the fact that the ministerial Decree of July 2, 2025 temporarily permitted these establishments to continue on-line sales of dogs and cats for a further six months. This decision, which was taken in light of the absence of a decree laying down the penalties applicable for non-compliance with the sales ban, effectively suspends the force of the law passed by Parliament. He therefore asks the Minister when the implementing decree specifying the penalties for non-compliance with the ban on sales in pet shops will be published, and what instructions are currently being provided to the veterinary and monitoring bodies to prevent online or click-and-collect sales by pet shops which, in all logic, clearly work against the principles of animal welfare and the considered and responsible adoption of pets.
Answer: The government has been committed to animal welfare for a number of years in response to the powerful and justified expectations of the public, and it condemns all abuse of animals, whether on farms, at abattoirs, or in people's homes. In this respect, since 2020 and thanks to the France Relance plan, more than €36 million has been granted to animal protection associations and veterinary medicine support initiatives. Similarly, since the adoption of the Law against animal abuse on November 30, 2021, four implementing decrees and six ministerial orders have been published to strengthen the training of those working with companion animals, to provide information to new owners, to control the identification of animals in online offers, and strengthen penalties for acts of abuse. To continue the positive momentum initiated by the government, a pet welfare plan was announced on May 22, 2024. This plan's national monitoring committee, chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, brings together four ministries, professionals from the industry, and key players in civil society to ensure the effective coordination of its actions. For the French State, the objective is to support and fully promote both current and future actions relating to three issues: the prevention of, and fight against, pet abandonment, improvement of the management of stray dogs and cats, and the prevention of, and fight against, the abuse of pets. To this end, the plan is built around practical measures involving five main spheres of action: building an understanding of the situation and identifying levers for action; informing, listening to and educating those involved; facilitating synergies between those working in animal protection; strengthening the protection provided by the regulations; and ensuring the continued provision of funding mechanisms. One year after the publication of the national action plan, we are seeing its first outcomes, with concrete measures that include data collection to improve our understanding of abandonment, the launch of a €3 million call for projects to combat the straying of animals, consultation on government action via an interministerial protocol, the publication of a decree regulating professional pet-related activities, and the strengthening of animal welfare inspections in pet shops. In accordance with the Law of November 30, 2021, to combat animal abuse and strengthen the bond between animals and humans, pet shops have been prohibited from selling or giving away dogs and cats on their premises since January 1, 2024. However, they may display cats and dogs belonging to animal protection foundations or associations if volunteers from these foundations or associations are present. The final clause in Paragraph VI of Article L. 214-8 of the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code permits pet shops to sell pets online for profit. The publication of the Decree of June 19, 2025, establishing the health and animal protection rules that must be met in activities related to companion animals of domestic species, provides a more detailed framework relating to the premises where these animals are kept, including animals in pet shops awaiting transfer to their online buyers.
The "penalties" decree, authorizing the prosecution of pet shops that continue to sell or give away dogs and cats in their establishments, a practice that has been prohibited since January 1, 2024, is currently being drafted by the French Ministry of Agriculture with a view to publication in late 2025 or early 2026. Further, with regard to online sales, the Law on animal abuse has brought in a requirement for advertising sites and publications to check offers of dogs, cats, and ferrets, whether for a fee or free of charge, before they are posted or published. Only verified advertisements containing all mandatory information may be approved and posted online. The verification of this mandatory information, relating to both the animal and its owner, must be carried out using the national database of domestic carnivores. To this end, the Ministry of Agriculture has worked with Ingenium Animalis, which operates the identification database, to create a verification tool for mandatory information, and this has been available to advertisers since May 2024. The validation process will provide those who wish to acquire a dog or cat through an online transaction (purchase or sale) with a guarantee concerning the animal's origin, the accuracy of its description, and the consent of the registered owner. Although failure to check advertisements can incur a fine of €7,500, a major challenge for the success of the measure remains the lack of awareness among individuals of the importance of this validation. The government is therefore committed to renewing its efforts for the protection of animals and will remain vigilant in its response to reports of stray, abandoned, and abused animals. Cases may be subject to prosecution in mainland France and overseas territories. A press pack (in French) setting out the practical measures taken to ensure the welfare of pets, published on July 11, 2025, can be found on the ministry's website using the following link: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/dossier-de-presse-des-actions-concretes-pour-assurer-le-bien-etre-des-animaux-de-compagnie
