The EU proposes a monopoly for vets to chip, register and euthanize cats and dogs. In Finland, a different practice is followed and we want to continue it.
Finland, hailed as a model student of the EU, has decided to cross paths with the EU Commission fresh draft regulations against in the proposal on identification marking, registration and killing of dogs and cats.
The Commission proposes exclusive rights for these only for veterinarians.
In the statement approved by the Government, the starting point is to continue in the way that is followed in Finland even now. Now, in addition to a veterinarian, the chipping can also be done by another person trained for it, and the registration is done by the owner or holder themselves in the Food Agency’s register.
A trained chipper usually charges 10–30 euros/puppy for the installation of a microchip, and online registration costs around ten if done yourself. Veterinarians’ fees are usually significantly higher.
The State Council justifies its position with the significant additional costs that animal owners would incur from the change.
In addition, it would only increase the workload of veterinarians and animal keepers, when there is already a shortage of them. The Finnish Veterinary Association and the Kennel Club agree.
According to the Government, other regulations proposed to improve the traceability of cats and dogs are acceptable.
The right to stop for others too
According to Finland’s position, the proposal regarding euthanizing cats and dogs should be changed so that, in addition to a veterinarian, another qualified person should also be able to do it.
– It is important, especially in remote areas, so that the welfare of the animals is not jeopardized, the Government notes.
It reminds us that the increase in killing costs can lead to a situation where killing a sick animal is postponed or not done at all.
Discipline puppy mills
The EU is pushing for a regulation to bring the so-called puppy mills and that’s what Finland wants too. The trade in dogs and cats takes place in the EU area annually with an estimated value of 1.3 billion euros, and about 60 percent of this takes place via online advertisements.
– Due to its profitability, the industry also attracts operators who want to engage in unfair or even illegal business practices, the commission points out in its proposal.
Belgium is in a hurry
The 27 EU member states will start negotiations on the pet regulation during this spring.
– Belgium, the EU Council presidency, has prioritized the regulation and it may be that the country aims to reach a solution during its own presidency, by the end of June, says Finland’s negotiator in the regulation project, special expert Tiina Pullola from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
It is not easy to reach an agreement, as the current chipping, registration and other pet policies of the member countries differ greatly from each other.
Pullola can’t remember by heart whether a custom similar to Finland is followed in any country. For example, in Sweden, pet chipping can now only be done by a veterinarian or a person supervised by him and the owner of the registration himself.
73 million dogs
After the member states’ agreement, the proposal moves to the tripartite negotiations of the Parliament, the Council and the Commission, i.e. the so-called to the trilogy.
– At the earliest, the proposal could be in the finalization phase a year from now in the spring, Pullola estimates.
Pullola does not anticipate what the proposal will look like at that point.
– Everything is open.
The entry into force will take even longer than this, as the commission proposes a three-year transition period for the chipping and registration obligation.
The regulatory package contains many other points, but they mainly concern professionals in the animal industry.
There are nearly 73 million dogs and almost 84 million cats in EU countries. There are 600,000–800,000 dogs in Finland and over half a million cats.