Document type : Regulation/Certification

Assemblée nationale : Réponse écrite à la question n°5678 : Vente des animaux domestiques en animalerie et à la question n°4997 : vente d’animaux sur internet

Questions: Mr Philippe Fait (Pas-de-Calais (4th constituency) - Ensemble pour la République) and Mr Bruno Bilde (Pas-de-Calais (12th constituency) - Rassemblement National). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

Answer to a question from French Assembly members concerning the actions taken to circumvent the ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops introduced on January 1, 2024 intended to restrict impulse purchases and abandonment. Without a clear system of penalties, online sales with in-store pick-ups are continuing.  The Government states that it plans to tighten regulation and controls, notably via a dedicated pet welfare plan launched in May 2024.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Assemblée nationale : réponse à la question n°4154 : Contrôle des conditions d’abattage des animaux dans les abattoirs

Question: Mr Karim Benbrahim (Loire-Atlantique (1st district) - Socialistes et apparentés). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Answer from the French Government to a question from a member of the National Assembly on abattoir monitoring and controls. The Ministry states that the work to control slaughtering conditions by government-appointed agents amounts to the equivalent of more than 1,200 full-time posts. Additionally, a national inspection force is brought in for complex cases, which can impose sanctions up to and including closure  in the event of serious failings.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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European Parliament: Answer to Question E-000939/2025: Legislative initiatives and minimum standards for the use of horses in sport

Question: Niels Fuglsang (S&D), Thomas Waitz (Greens/EFA), Sebastian Everding (The Left). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Answer from the European Commission to a parliamentary question on animal welfare in equestrian sports, asking whether it intends to introduce legislation to penalize the Abuse of horses in sport. The Commission considers this to be a matter for national legislation. At this juncture, it has no plans to extend Directive 98/58/EC to equines used in sport.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Equines

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Assemblée nationale : réponse à la question n°5909 : Transition vers un élevage hors-cage en France

Question: Mr Pouria Amirshahi (Paris (5th constituency) - Écologiste et Social). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Question from a Member of Parliament on support for farmers to achieve an effective  transition to cage-free farming in France. The government points out that cage-free farming is growing in France. It provides supporte for this process through assistance with capital expenditure and national coordination, while calling for harmonization at European level so that farms can remain competitive.  

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories:Cattle, Pigs, Poultry

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Animal welfare during transport: Update on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005

European Parliamentary Research Service

Published in 2025

European Parliament study assessing the implementation of Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on animal transport, revealing  continued compliance problems, particularly for vulnerable animals. It recommends that regulatory definitions should be clarified, while inspections and data recording should be harmonised to improve the effectiveness of the legislation.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Equines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

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European Parliament: Answer to Question E-001189/25: Access to open air areas for young organic poultry

Question: Christine Singer (Renew). Answer: Mr Hansen on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

European parliamentary question on the need for flexibility and practical solutions in responding to the the requirement for young organic poultry to be given access to outdoor areas, so that animal welfare needs and structural or health constraints can be reconciled. The Commission reminds the deputy that Regulation (EU) 2018/848 provides for continuous outdoor access for at least one-third of a bird's life, sets minimum surface areas for modular areas and provides for transitional periods in which to adapt facilities.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

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Assemblée nationale : Réponse à la question n°126 : Budget alloué aux associations pour la stérilisation des chats errants

Question: Mr Karl Olive (Yvelines (12th constituency) - Ensemble pour la République). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Question from a French Deputy to the government on how the law on stray cats should be implemented and what local councillors need to do to gain access to the funding earmarked to deal with the problem of stray cats, in particular through sterilization.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Felines

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Instruction technique DGAL/SDSBEA/2025-254 du 14-04-2025 : Certificat d'engagement et de connaissance délivré avant acquisition d'un animal de compagnie

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Update to the DGAL technical instruction of 14/11/2022, invoving changes to the content of the compulsory certificate of commitment and knowledge that must now be issued prior to the acquisition of a pet.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

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Final report - EFTA Surveillance Authority's follow-up audit to Norway from 20 to 24 January 2025 on protection of laying hens and chickens kept for meat production

ESA (EFTA Surveillance Authority)

Published in 2025

Audit report carried out by the AES in January 2025 in Norway, revealing some progress for the welfare of laying hens, but a continued lack of official controls for broilers. The AES points out that, despite some remedial actions, Norway has yet to fully integrate these measures into its on-site compliance inspections.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Poultry

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Final Report of an Audit of France carried out from 13 to 24 November 2023 in order to Evaluate the Protection of Unweaned Calves during Long Journeys

DG Health - European Commission

Published in 2025

Audit report on French controls on long journeys by unweaned calves, which concludes that the system is generally well set up, but is limited by certain deficiencies (gaps in procedures, control prioritization not always based on risks, lack of systematic follow-up). It recommends improvements to ensure greater compliance with animal welfare requirements.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Bovines

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