23.11.2013   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 343/21

1.

The European Commission has received, and continues to receive, a series of complaints about the welfare and management of stray dogs in Romania, which it has registered under reference CHAP(2013) 3076 (see acknowledgement at OJ C 314, 29.10.2013, p. 9).

2.

In order to respond swiftly and inform those concerned, while making the most economical use of administrative resources, the Commission is publishing this reply in the Official Journal of the European Union, and on the Internet at:

http://ec.europa.eu/eu_law/complaints/receipt/index_en.htm

3.

The welfare and management of stray animal populations is not governed by EU rules and remains under the sole responsibility of the Member States. In particular, Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which requires full regard for the welfare requirements of animals when formulating and implementing some EU policies, does not provide a legal base permitting all animal welfare issues to be addressed.

4.

The Commission supports the work of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on guidelines for the control of stray dog populations, highlighting the important role of local government agencies for the enforcement of legislation relating to dog ownership land indicating the bodies responsible for developing and implementing appropriate training to regulate dog capture, transport, and holding as well as minimum housing and care criteria. The guidelines emphasise the need for parallel approaches in controlling stray dog populations and call for killing to be carried out in a humane way when necessary, not being a sustainable strategy if performed alone. Each Member State, as a member of the OIE, considers how most appropriately to use these international guidelines in their national context. The Commission will continue to support the work of the OIE Regional Platform on Animal Welfare for Europe, assisting OIE member countries in Eastern Europe, including Romania, to achieve compliance with these standards.

5.

Systematic and common information and education strategies on dog welfare are supported by the Commission cooperating with others to develop the ‘CARODOG’ website (http://www.carodog.eu), an informative platform on canine population management leading to responsible animal ownership as a basic principle for the promotion of companion animal welfare in the EU.

6.

The EU rules on the protection of animals at the time of killing (Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009) deal specifically with the killing of animals in slaughterhouses and those kept for farming purposes. Animals killed under other circumstances are not covered by this Regulation.

7.

The Commission will continue to pursue the work mentioned above, to which it attaches great importance, but will close the complaints as the grievances fall outside the scope of EU law.