URGENT ACTION - EU "Animal Health Law"
January 2015
The new EU "Animal
Health Law" is in its last stage of the legislative process, and should
be finalised before Summer 2015. The Parliament has made numerous important
amendments to the draft text, for instance the introduction of a new animal
category ”non-kept animals” and a registration/identification requirement for
all dogs. Unfortunately the Commission has rejected these and almost all other
amendments which would increase the level of animal welfare in the EU.
According to the Commission, stray animals, such as abandoned dogs and cats, are to be defined as ”wild animals”. This definition is not only unnatural but could lead to the further deterioration of the already horrific situation of the stray dogs. It would also cause confusion and misunderstandings in the interpretation and application of the regulation.
There is no current EU legislation concerning the welfare of companion animals, which has led to unspeakable cruelty towards dogs in many member states. Mandatory registration and identification of all dogs would give a basic level of protection for the dogs, and it is therefore very important that it is included in the legislation as soon as possible.
According to the Commission, stray animals, such as abandoned dogs and cats, are to be defined as ”wild animals”. This definition is not only unnatural but could lead to the further deterioration of the already horrific situation of the stray dogs. It would also cause confusion and misunderstandings in the interpretation and application of the regulation.
There is no current EU legislation concerning the welfare of companion animals, which has led to unspeakable cruelty towards dogs in many member states. Mandatory registration and identification of all dogs would give a basic level of protection for the dogs, and it is therefore very important that it is included in the legislation as soon as possible.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
It’s extremely important that we as EU citizens speak up and let the the politicians know that we demand a higher level of animal welfare, especially for the companion animals who are currently excluded from the legislation. Below are some actions you can take for the animals. You can freely use the below letter, or parts of it, and amend it as you please. Better still is to write a message in your own words. If you use the letter as such, please remember to insert the date and your own name. If you need it to be translated in some other language, you can for instance use Google Translate (please check the translation, though!). At the bottom of the page I have also included links to the campaigns of some animal welfare organisations.
Please click the link below to download the letter in Word format.
| letter_animal_health_law_campaign.docx |
1
Send a letter/e-mail message to the Minister of Agriculture of your own country. This is very important because the minister represents your country in the European Council in this particular matter. You can also use Four Paws’ postcards (please see item 5 below). The website of the Ministry of Agriculture of your country can be found here.
2
Send a letter/e-mail message/postcard to your own MEP. You can find his/her contact details here.
3
Send a letter/e-mail message/postcard to the following EU politicians:
Mr Martin Schulz, President
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz 60
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Donald Tusk, President
European Council
Rue de la Loi 175
B-1048 Brussels
BELGIUM
Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, President
European Commission
CHARL 9/234
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 170
B-1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Phil Hogan, Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr. Vytanis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health & Food Safety
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Ms Marit Paulsen, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 08G158
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Herbert Dorfmann, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 10E242
B-1047 Brussels
[email protected]
Ms Michela Giuffrida, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 15G140
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Marco Zullo, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 07H247
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Janusz Wojciechowski, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Willy Brandt 04M099
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Alyn Smith, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 04F343
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Ms Anja Hazekamp, MEP
European Parliament
Wiertzstraat
Willy Brandt 02M039
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
4
Sign Occupy for Animals' and Rescue Association Hobo Dogs' petition
5
Carodog’s article about the Animal Health Law where you can find Four Paws’ postcards in different formats
Send a letter/e-mail message to the Minister of Agriculture of your own country. This is very important because the minister represents your country in the European Council in this particular matter. You can also use Four Paws’ postcards (please see item 5 below). The website of the Ministry of Agriculture of your country can be found here.
2
Send a letter/e-mail message/postcard to your own MEP. You can find his/her contact details here.
3
Send a letter/e-mail message/postcard to the following EU politicians:
Mr Martin Schulz, President
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz 60
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Donald Tusk, President
European Council
Rue de la Loi 175
B-1048 Brussels
BELGIUM
Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, President
European Commission
CHARL 9/234
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 170
B-1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Phil Hogan, Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
B-1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr. Vytanis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health & Food Safety
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Ms Marit Paulsen, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 08G158
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Herbert Dorfmann, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 10E242
B-1047 Brussels
[email protected]
Ms Michela Giuffrida, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 15G140
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Marco Zullo, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 07H247
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Janusz Wojciechowski, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Willy Brandt 04M099
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Mr Alyn Smith, MEP
European Parliament
Rue Wiertz
Altiero Spinelli 04F343
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
Ms Anja Hazekamp, MEP
European Parliament
Wiertzstraat
Willy Brandt 02M039
B-1047 Brussels
BELGIUM
[email protected]
4
Sign Occupy for Animals' and Rescue Association Hobo Dogs' petition
5
Carodog’s article about the Animal Health Law where you can find Four Paws’ postcards in different formats