What is the new animal law?
In April, the new European animal health regulation came into effect. This brings together European legislation on animal health, which is why the Dutch Animal Act had to be amended accordingly. The law is to enter into force in 2023.
The Party for the Animals submitted an amendment to the law, an amendment. The purpose of this adaptation was that animals are no longer adapted to the housing system, but that the system is adapted to the animals. The amendment provides that after 2022 it is no longer allowed to hurt an animal. But also to cause injury to an animal, or to harm the health or welfare of the animal with the aim of being able to house the animal in a certain way.
A large majority in the House of Representatives and Senate agreed to this.
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What exactly does that amendment mean?
In practice, this means that it is prohibited, for example, to dehorn calves and goats or to cut pigs’ tails. It will mean that ducks have to be given bathing water and rabbits have to be able to live in groups and dig. That bred puppies should be able to go outside and see daylight.
That’s pretty clear, what’s the problem?
The fuss was caused by an investigation by Minister Carola Schouten into the consequences of the amendment. Because the Party for the Animals feared that this investigation would lead to postponement, the party asked the minister for clarification yesterday. She said the ramifications of the amendment are complex. “I just want to remind you that this amendment is not just about animals in livestock farming, but also about keeping companion animals.”
That led to concerns about keeping pets. Because, are you no longer allowed to walk a dog on a leash? Can birds no longer be kept in cages? Do cats have to go outside and rabbits can only be kept in groups?
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And, what is the consequence for keeping pets?
According to the Party for the Animals MP Vestering, it is ‘really utter nonsense’ that dogs are no longer allowed to be kept on a leash. “The point is that dogs may not always be kept on a leash. But in the debate about this law, it has never been about private animal owners. It was about livestock farming.”
The law and the amendment will ensure that more attention is paid to the welfare of all animals, says professor Ludo Hellebrekers, director of Wageningen Bioveterinary Research. “So for the cows of a cattle farmer, but also for the owner of a pet.”
Hellebrekers points out that the law is there to ensure that attention is paid to the proper handling of animals. “In the professional and individual keeping of animals, improvements can be made with regard to the health and welfare of the animals, especially with regard to their natural behaviour. For example, a canary kept in a cage cannot fly, although that is the natural behavior of the animal. That has to change.”
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Vestering also points out that the natural behavior of canaries is to fly. “And you can’t do that in a small cage.” She does point out that the new animal law and the amendment mainly concern livestock farming. “In the past, hurting animals was allowed if there was a reasonable purpose. That reasonable purpose was before this law, animal husbandry. With this change, that is no more. That promise that it would change was already made 20 years ago by the then Minister of Agriculture. And that has finally happened.”
Hellebrekers also points out that a dog can still be walked on a leash. “That also has to do with social quality of life. But a horse alone in the meadow while they are social animals, that will no longer be possible. Just like a production animal should not always be kept in a darkened stable.”
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According to Professor Hellebrekers, the implementation of the law will have consequences for all animal owners. “To cope with this, the government will have to provide more information. What is good for an animal and what is not. Many pet owners do their best, but what they do is, without their knowledge, not always good for the animal.”
Hellebrekers thinks that the short-term consequences will be ‘not too bad’. “But it’s good, because it teaches and forces us to think about how we keep animals. Animal welfare is becoming increasingly important, and that’s good.”
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