The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD) has included the Administrative Instruction (AI) for the technical conditions that must be met by breeders of companion animals for breeding and sale within the Legislative Plan for 2024. According to the plan, the AI must be approved or submitted for review by March 31, 2024.

We thank the MAFRD for including the approval of this AI in the legislative plan for this year, as it is one of the most important steps for creating a legal basis for the control of breeding and sale of companion animals, especially dogs, since uncontrolled breeding and sale remain the main source of the increase in the number of dogs abandoned on the streets.

In 2021, our organization was part of the working group for the drafting of a version of this AI, together with the FVA. This AI is also included in the Action Plan of the National Strategy for the Management and Control of Dogs with and without Owners.

However, we are not at all satisfied that the MAFRD, even after many requests, has not included in the legislative plan the AI for the responsible keeping of companion animals, to regulate the conditions of keeping these animals at home. The drafting of this AI is also foreseen by the Law on Animal Care and National Strategy.

Control of breeding and sale and control of owned dogs remain essential measures for the management of the dog population, and in particular for the prevention of dogs being abandoned on the streets.

We call on the MAFRD to be flexible and to include in the legislative plan for this year also the AI for the responsible keeping of companion animals, for which our organization is ready to support the institutions for its drafting.