merrion street

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today launched a public consultation on a voluntary Code of Practice for pet shops, and on the need for further legislation for the advertising and sale of animals as pets.

Minister Creed said

This public consultation is an opportunity to gain the views of stakeholders on issues regarding the welfare of animals sold as pets, whether through a “bricks and mortar” pet shop or online. This will inform my Department in considering the need for legislation for this sector. The voluntary Code of Conduct will provide a set of guidelines for pet shops, not only on the welfare of animals, but on other matters, such as the need to assist potential buyers of pet animals make informed decisions. I encourage all interested parties to contribute to this public consultation.

The voluntary Code of Practice for pet shops is intended to provide guidance to pet shop operators as part of their care and management of animals sold as pets. The Code also contains guidelines on information to be provided to potential buyers to make sure they make informed purchases of pet animals, and on public health matters.

Also under consideration is whether there is a need for further legislation for the advertisement and sale of pet animals. The 2013 Animal Health and Welfare Act contains provisions on the welfare of animals during a sale. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is considering whether new secondary legislation around the sale and advertising of pet animals is warranted.

The public consultation document and the draft voluntary Code of Practice are available under the Animal Health and Welfare heading on the Department’s Public Consultations webpage, available at: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/customerservice/publicconsultations

The consultation process will be open until Friday, 22nd June 2018.

Submissions can be sent to AHWD.Consultation@agriculture.gov.ie
Alternatively, if preferred, submissions can also be sent by post to:

Pet Shop Consultation
Live Trade Division, 4C
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Kildare Street
Dublin 2
D02 WK12

A summary of submissions received will be published on the Department’s website. A list of names and organisations that responded will be published, to exclude any personal data.