29 Amendments of Aurélia BEIGNEUX related to 2019/2814(RSP)
Amendment 15 #
Recital A
A. whereas a significant number of companion animals are illegally traded across Member States through the deliberate misuse of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, which is intended for the non- commercial movements of pet animals, when they should be transported under Council Directive 92/65/EEC; whereas this trafficking is facilitated by the disappearance of national borders;
Amendment 24 #
Recital D
D. whereas the illegal breeding of cats and dogs often happens in terrible conditions; whereas puppies are often separated from their mothers much too early and subjected to long journeys across the EU in cramped and filthy conditions with no food, water, or air-conditioning, and no breaks; whereas these conditions lead to the death of many of them;
Amendment 25 #
Recital D a (new)
Da. whereas it is highly traumatic for young companion animals, especially puppies, to be separated from their mothers too early; whereas such trauma leads to the animals having behavioural disorders, to the detriment of the consumer, and whereas these disorders are an aggravating factor in the risk of abandonment;
Amendment 27 #
Recital E
E. whereas pet passports are often counterfeited with veterinarians involved in this illegal practice; whereas in some Member States the authorities are turning a blind eye to this;
Amendment 28 #
Recital E
E. whereas pet passports are too easy to forge and are therefore often counterfeited, with veterinarians involved in this illegal practice;
Amendment 31 #
Recital E
E. whereas pet passports are often counterfeited, with veterinarians and national public services involved in this illegal practice;
Amendment 33 #
Recital F
F. whereas illegally bred companion animals are very often not vaccinated; whereas there are various zoonotic risks associated with the illegal trafficking of companion animals, including the introduction of rabies from endemic parts of Europe into countries that are rabies- free, as well as the spreading of parasites such as Echinococcus multilocularis and others4, and diseases such as ringworm, mange and Leishmaniasis; _________________ 4 European Commission (2015). Study on the welfare of dogs and cats involved in commercial practices. Specific Contract SANCO 2013/12364, Final Report: https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/an imals/docs/aw_eu-strategy_study_dogs- cats-commercial-practices_en.pdf , p. 65; also EU Dog & Cat Alliance (2016): Briefing on the review of pet movement legislation under the “Animal Health Law.” https://s3-eu-west- 1.amazonaws.com/assets.dogandcatwelfare .eu/live/media/publicationtemp/EU_Dog_C at_Alliance_briefing_AHL_pet_movement _review.pdf .
Amendment 37 #
Recital H
H. whereas a very common method used to purchase companion animals in the EU is now through online classified adverts, followed closely by social media5; whereas consumers who purchase companion animals via online advertisements have little protection of their rights, whether at national or EU level; whereas the great majority of these consumers are acting in good faith but are poorly informed; whereas unaccounted numbers of illegally bred companion animals are sold on markets in Member States or directly out of cars along the internal borders of the EU; _________________ 5 EU Dog & Cat Alliance + Blue Cross (2017). Online Pet Sales in the EU: What’s the cost? https://s3-eu-west- 1.amazonaws.com/assets.dogandcatwelfare .eu/live/media/publicationtemp/12195_- _EU_Pet_sales_report_spreads.pdf
Amendment 41 #
Recital H a (new)
Ha. whereas in the destination countries, individuals specialise in the purchase of young animals, especially puppies, reared at low cost abroad, with the sole aim of reselling them for a profit; whereas such practices are harmful to professionals in the sector, to animals and to consumers;
Amendment 44 #
Recital H b (new)
Hb. whereas some individuals in the EU derive their main source of income from activities relating to the breeding and sale of young animals, especially puppies; whereas the majority of them seek to reduce the their ‘production’ costs through illegal or illegitimate practices; whereas such practices are harmful to professionals in the sector, to animals and to consumers;
Amendment 48 #
Recital H c (new)
Hc. whereas the number of thefts of companion animals, especially those with a high market value, is continuing to rise, and whereas this is fuelling the trafficking of companion animals to be re-sold or used for breeding purposes;
Amendment 49 #
Recital H d (new)
Hd. having regard to the urgency and severity of the situation of animals affected by these forms of trafficking;
Amendment 52 #
Paragraph 1
1. Emphasises that the identification and registration of companion animals, especially cats and dogs, is a crucial and necessary first step in the fight against illegal trade, and that registration and identification are key conditions for control, enforcement, and traceability;
Amendment 60 #
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for a clear linkage between the EU Pet Passport and Pet Microchip Registration to ensure that the origin of the companion animal remains clear even if the Pet P; calls for the animal’s origin to be shown on the Pet Passport cover, even if the passport is replaced;
Amendment 67 #
Paragraph 6
6. Considers that a uniform EU definition of large-scale commercial breeding facilities, known as puppy mills, is necessary in order to tacklban them and the illegal trade
Amendment 69 #
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the European Commission to improve the protection ofinformation provided to consumers buying companion animals via online adverts as part of its Digital Agenda, in order to protect consumers, but also to make them more responsible;
Amendment 73 #
Paragraph 9
9. Is of the opinion that the illegal trafficking of companion animals could be curbed by improving law enforcement and toughening sanctions against economic operators, veterinarians and national public services - from source,particularly in source countries, but also in transit and destination countries - who supply counterfeit pet passports;
Amendment 75 #
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Calls on the Member States to require their national veterinary bodies or organisations to impose sanctions on practitioners who forge pet passports by providing for the right to practise as a veterinarian to be suspended or removed;
Amendment 78 #
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ban the online sale of young animals by individuals and businesses that did not rear them;
Amendment 79 #
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Amendment 80 #
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to take the necessary measures to strengthen sanctions against those responsible for the theft of companion animals;
Amendment 81 #
Paragraph 10 d (new)
10d. Calls on the Member States to introduce checks on the actual age of imported puppies and to take legal action against those who trade in animals whose passports have been forged;
Amendment 82 #
Paragraph 10 e (new)
10e. Calls on the Commission to make it compulsory for individuals and professionals to hold a European passport for all dogs, cats and ferrets born in the EU before any resale, even resale within the Member State in which the animal was born;
Amendment 83 #
Paragraph 10 f (new)
10f. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to introduce dissuasive sanctions for any cross border transactions of companion animals carried out without a passport;
Amendment 84 #
Paragraph 10 g (new)
10g. Calls on the Member States to introduce a permit for the keeping of companion animals, as some Member States and regions within Member States have already done;
Amendment 87 #
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission to rapidly propose consistent and enforceable breeding rules for companion animals to be put in place across the EU;
Amendment 90 #
Paragraph 17
17. Believes that the frequency of inspections should also be harmonised across the EU and carried out in cooperation with the customs, police and veterinary services of the Member States; believes that at least two unannounced inspections per year should be carried out at each breeding facility;
Amendment 92 #
Paragraph 18
18. Calls on the competent authorities of the Member States, in case of non- compliance with Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, to adhere strictly to the procedures laid down therein and to ensure the rehoming of any seized companion animals; calls, furthermore, on the Member States to provide adequately support, including financial, for animal rescue centres;
Amendment 102 #
Paragraph 22
22. Recognises the importantvital role played by animal protection associations and NGOs in the fight against the illegal trafficking of companion animals;