Non-commercial keepers of livestock in the Netherlands are concerned about the letter written to the Netherlands Parliament by the country’s Minister of Agriculture[1] on the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council[2] as from 21 April 2021 on account of the compulsory registration requirements and other obligations that it lays down. However, Recital 24 of that same Animal Health Law states that the requirements concerning registration and documentation do not have to apply to keepers of pet animals (for purely private purposes in households, whether kept indoors or outdoors, including ornamental aquatic animals), and that specific rules should apply to non-commercial movements of pet animals within the Union.
1. Will the Commission therefore, by means of the implementing acts provided for in this Animal Health Law, make provision for the possibility of derogations for non-commercial keepers, for example, of only small flocks of poultry (the current maximum being 250 individuals) and for beekeepers and keepers of bumblebees, horses and cameloids, because the application of the obligations laid down in the Regulation to these categories of keepers of animals would lead to unjustified administrative burdens and costs?
2. If so, can the Commission indicate how soon and for what maximum numbers of animals in the case of non-commercial livestock keepers these derogations will be introduced?
A: Mr Andriukaitis on behalf of the European Commission
The Commission will develop and adopt an implementing act based on Article 86(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429[3] providing the Member States with the possibility to exempt certain establishments posing an insignificant risk from the registration obligation, where the relevant conditions are met.
The Commission will look into possible solutions regarding the types of establishments, species or categories of animals kept in such establishments, movement patterns, taking account of the animal health risks involved, including epidemiological situation, and will discuss them with the Member States and the relevant stakeholders throughout the consultation process.
The implementing act is planned for adoption before the date of application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which is set to 21 April 2021.
[1] Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health ('Animal Health Law').
[2] Netherlands House of Representatives, 2018-2019 session, 2 286, No 1062
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