The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Costas Kadis, presented today, during the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels, document on a new EU legislative framework for an EU positive list for petfarming on behalf of Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta.
Speaking during a public meeting of the Council, Mr Kadis said:
Mr President, Dear Colleagues, Dear Commissioner,
Every year, millions of wild animals are captured from the wild and sold to various countries, destined to live a life in captivity.
It is now well established that the trade in exotic species is one of the main threats to biodiversity, putting many species at risk of extinction. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, one in four mammal species and one in eight bird species are at risk of extinction. Biodiversity may also be affected if wild species escape or are released from their owners into the wild. The European Commission estimates that the cost of controlling and managing damage from invasive species in the EU amounts to €12 billion per year.
Wild species are not suited to living as pets, so they do not thrive in captivity. These animals suffer greatly during capture, transport and captivity, experiencing intense stress, boredom, depression and severe behavioural problems. In addition, they have complex social and nutritional needs that their owners find difficult to meet and often abandon them.
It is estimated that over 70% of all zoonotic diseases originate from wild animals. If wild animals become pets, proximity to their owners drastically increases the risk of spreading diseases. At the same time, many wild animals kept as pets pose a serious threat to human safety, due to the nature of the animals containing aggressive or predatory characteristics.
Although the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is extremely important for regulating trade in endangered species, it is nevertheless insufficient to address the risks associated with the trade and keeping of wild animals as pets.
In an attempt to address these problems, some EU countries have adopted the Positive List, i.e. a list of a limited number of animal species that can be kept as pets. In contrast, a negative list would mean that all species not on it are by default allowed to be kept as pets. However, in order to have a significant impact on biodiversity conservation and animal welfare, coordinated efforts are needed at EU level.
Cyprus together with Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta call on the Commission to explore the potential benefits of adopting an EU-wide positive list, based on the experience gained from Member States that have implemented this system. The EU can do more to protect animals and humans and we look forward to everyone's support.
Thank you.
For the text of the Minister's presentation in English click here.
For the video of the Minister's presentation click here.
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