TALLINN – As the new EU Animal Health Regulation took effect in Estonia from Wednesday, the obligation of notification was expanded also to the business operators who keep dogs, cats or other animals normally kept as pets for the purpose of business.
Estonia's Minister of Rural Affairs Urmas Kruuse said that while the new regulation does not change the fundamental principles of veterinary law, it brings with it certain other changes, spokespeople for the Ministry of Rural Affairs said.
From now on, also pet breeders and stores selling pets on a standing basis are subject to the obligation of notification, also when the animals are raised under home conditions.
An activity license will be required from animal shelters if they engage in the intermediation of animals to another member state.
"The keeping of pets for the purpose of business and their brokerage are activities which entail a higher risk to animal health and therefore the companies engaging in it require greater attention from the state," Kruuse said.
Simultaneously with the transposition of the EU Animal Health Regulation also the Estonian law will be updated, with existing legislative acts being to do with animal health brought into accordance with the EU regulation and brought together into a single Veterinary Act, which is expected to enter into force on July 1. In the future, business operators active in said field must be guided in their actions both by the EU and Estonian legislative acts and, in the period in-between, first and foremost by the EU Animal Health Regulation.
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