The government approved new requirements for places of sale of animals

The Government of the Russian Federation has approved new requirements for the animal trade. In particular, the sizes of enclosures, the temperature regime of keeping, the rules of feeding and lighting in retail outlets are regulated. The rules will come into force next year, but a number of pet stores have already abandoned the sale of animals, since it will be unprofitable for them to comply with these requirements, deputy Vladimir Burmatov told Kommersant. Animal rights activists are alarmed that the provisions do not apply to the activities of the self-employed, which “constitutes a huge volume of the shadow pet market.”

The Government of the Russian Federation approved requirements to the content of animals in the places of their sale. The document, which comes into force on March 1, 2024 and establishes a number of new rules for this area, was prepared as part of the implementation of the updated legislation.

We are talking about the amendments to Art. 5 and 11 of the Law on Responsible Treatment of Animals. Commenting on the document, Speaker of the Parliament Vyacheslav Volodin noted that in pet stores and bird markets “animals are kept in unacceptable conditions – hungry, in cramped and dirty cages, without proper care and veterinary care.” Therefore, the deputies gave the Cabinet of Ministers additional powers to regulate the industry related to their trade.

The first version of the resolution, prepared by the Ministry of Natural Resources, was to come into force in September this year. However, a number of project norms were criticized by experts, in particular, there were disputes about the allowable sizes of enclosures. Vladimir Burmatov, deputy chairman of the Duma Committee on Ecology, who initiated the introduction of the bill, said that “the given parameters do not meet the spirit of the law, that is, the prohibition of ugly forms of animal trade.” In the final version, the standards were increased, which completely satisfied the deputy.

In addition to the requirements for the size of enclosures (depending on the type of animals), the decree also regulates the temperature regime of keeping, the rules for feeding and lighting them, and the state of veterinary documents. Selling animals will be allowed only in places that meet the specified parameters, and also only where these animals are kept. It should be noted that the resolution does not apply to “trading activities carried out by individuals applying a special tax regime (self-employed.— “b”)”.

“Now it will be illegal to sell animals on the street in cages or carriers or at retail outlets in the market, bringing them in in the morning and taking them back in the evening,” Yury Koretskikh, executive director of the Alliance for Animal Defenders, commented in an interview with Kommersant about the innovations.

Otherwise, the animal rights activist considers the established requirements to be so weak that “in fact, nothing will change in these areas.”

Yulia Trefilova, GR and PR director of the Animal Welfare Association, is wary that the provisions do not apply to the sale of animals by the self-employed: “This activity makes up a huge volume of the shadow pet market, measures should be tightened against this category of sellers.” Ms. Trefilova also insists on the need to “control the activities of individuals who not only do not formalize entrepreneurial activities in this area, but also breed and sell animals, violating all norms and rules.”

Vladimir Burmatov, on the contrary, already sees positive changes, although the rules have not yet come into force. A number of pet stores, he said, have already abandoned the sale of animals, as it will be unprofitable for them to comply with the new requirements. The parliamentarian cited data that the proceeds from the sale of animals is only 5% of the income of chain pet stores.

Mr. Burmatov called on the authorities, volunteers and animal rights activists to unite and initiate as many inspections as possible of “the most important lawless people (bird markets.— “b”) in order to expel from there those sellers who will already become violators of the rules of trade.

The deputy explained to Kommersant that this would be followed by the closure of retail outlets. Moreover, their owners can be accused of cruelty to animals, for which criminal or administrative liability is provided.

Polina Yachmennikova