On December 24th, 2018, the Food and Veterinary Agency of the Republic of Kosovo (FVAK) addressed the letter attached to this post, etitled: “Organizing and Functionalizing the Animal Markets by the Municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo” to all municipalities of the Republic of Kosovo.

This letter is based on the regulatory framework in force to regulate proper functioning conditions for the keeping/captivity, sale-purchase and slaughter of non-human animals destined for human consumption.

The FVAK, has a mandate to investigate and detect all irregularities in the territory of Kosovo (be it in farms, markets, private homes, shops, national borders, etc.) where pets are kept, fertilized/bred, sold or slaughtered (including poultry, aquatic beings, bees and pets – etc.), Moreover, the FVAK is also an executive body, which means that it should initiate punitive procedures for all abusers and illegal slaughterers in Kosovo.

We are, however, very pleased that FVAK has taken a small measure for these problems detected in all animal markets of Kosovo municipalities. However, it is worth pointing out, although a formal letter should be written in courtesy and formality, the last two sentences of the same letter, as you can see, are more inclined to a “kind request” to the municipalities, in order for them to improve the animal market conditions, rather than (as it should) as a strict and urgent formal ORDER, which the municipalities ought to respect.

Not one single institution with executive power should address a letter with only a “kind request” and seeking for “cooperation” either to a natural or legal person, if the latter have committed serious violations of many legal provisions. In developed countries, the violations committed in the animal markets, which we have also inspected as NGOs, together with the United for Animals organization, are considered as severe criminal offenses for which punishments are applied as soon as possible. But nothing like that in our case!

Kosovo is a state in which the rule of law is governed (as foreseen by the Constitution), and which should have as its main principle the protection of all citizens of this country (in this case from eventual deadly epidemic diseases). The conditions we have inspected as organizations and also the FVAK itself, have endangered and continue to endanger the lives of all citizens of Kosovo.

In addition, animal welfare continues to be violated continuously. The animals still experience pain, stress, anxiety, and great suffering during their slaughter – in the markets of Kosovo’s municipalities. The slaughter of livestock animals, according to our laws, must be performed only after stunning the animals (make them unconscious).

We do not accept, and it worries us quite a lot, when we see only a kind “requests” and the seeking of “understanding” in such a formal letter from FVAK. Such letters should urgently and strictly order the ban on causing intentional abuse to animals and should seek urgent measures, in order to prevent: deadly and epidemic diseases for humans and non-humans animals.