Pets in shops: the government is reviewing trade and animal welfare rules

The Luxembourg Ministry of Agriculture, represented by Martine Hansen, has responded to a parliamentary enquiry by Marc Goergen, who raised the issue of the sale and keeping of animals in hardware shops.

According to current legislation, euthanasia of animals in retail outlets is allowed only in exceptional cases, when it is impossible to call a veterinarian quickly and the animal is suffering from pain or injuries. In any case, such a procedure must comply with the requirements of the European Convention for the Protection of Domestic Animals (1987): minimisation of pain, loss of consciousness before death or deep general anaesthesia followed by death.

Shops selling live animals are also required to obtain a special ministerial licence. During the licensing process, both the conditions in which the animals are kept and the professional qualifications of the staff or the availability of in-house training in animal care are checked.

However, there are no official statistics on animal deaths in such shops - the Ministry does not keep records of the so-called "Perte" animals. This causes concern on the part of animal advocates and MPs, as it does not allow to assess the real level of care for animals in the trade.

When asked about the possibility of banning the sale of animals in hardware shops where the main activity is not related to pet trade (for example, the sale of building materials, paints, fertilisers), the ministry replied that the law on animal protection is currently under revision and all options for tightening measures are being considered.

Thus, the issue of strengthening regulatory control and even banning trade in live animals in farm chains remains open, especially in the context of public pressure and reform of animal welfare legislation.