Recently, the World Dog Alliance (WDA) had an interview with German MEP Martin Buschmann. The interview was conducted as belows.
Martin Buschmann MEP:
As a Member of the European Parliament with a focus on animal welfare, my political work also includes advocacy for the protection of companion animals such as dogs and cats. It is far too little known that in many countries around the world, dogs and cats are still killed for their meat.
In Germany, the slaughter of these kinds of animals has been prohibited since 1986, just as the sale of dog or cat meat is no longer allowed. The practice of not eating dogs or cats, flanked by laws, has prevailed throughout Europe, which is why EFSA [European Food Safety Authority] does not really need to address this issue (most recently, the consumption of dog meat was discussed as an “emerging risk” in 2018). Elsewhere in the world, however, the meat of cats and dogs unfortunately remains on the menu. Therefore, it would be desirable to conclude an international agreement that effectively protects dogs and cats. I will be happy to answer your questions on this subject.
WDA:
1. How can member states be made aware of the problem of the consumption of dogs and cats?
Martin Buschmann MEP:
In exceptional cases such as Poland, attention can be drawn to the problem with reference to violations in their own country. Again and again, there are reports that dogs are fattened in Poland to process them into lard. This is in contradiction to the valid animal protection laws and is pursued by the police. Not always however also a condemnation takes place. So, there is an obvious need for stricter national laws, best supported by an international agreement. Here the member states of the EU should join forces to work out a first agreement. The prospects for this will improve considerably if corresponding demands are made by the population. This will require the most intensive public relations work possible to raise awareness of the problem. Finally, a petition addressed to the Commission in the form of a European Citizens’ Initiative puts the issue firmly on the political agenda.
WDA:
2. How can the awareness of the necessity for an international agreement for the protection of dogs and cats be increased globally? (Example: commitment to the whaling agreement)
Martin Buschmann MEP:
Before an international agreement seems possible, the individual nation states must become aware of the problem. Fortunately, there are more and more positive signals for this, for example from South Korea. There, a “task force” is to deal with the development of a prohibition of dog meat. However, these and other measures are uncoordinated, and their effect is usually limited to a local level, which is why a superordinate contact point seems to make sense. The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling originally aimed to develop and protect whale stocks. A ban on hunting was not intended, and this objective is still disputed today (for obvious reasons) by Norway, for example. A transfer of this convention to the problem of the consumption of dog and cat meat is not particularly purposeful, since the existence of these animals is not endangered. Moreover, the production or consumption of dog and cat meat is not to be managed but prohibited. Therefore, a different approach is needed.
WDA:
3. What are the chances that the EU will actively support the issue by signing the agreement? What steps need to be taken to achieve this?
Martin Buschmann MEP:
The EU itself or its organs, such as the Commission, are unlikely to join such an agreement; rather, it is the individual member states that become supporters and signatories. The first step is to draft a treaty text consisting of a preamble, articles, precise definitions, and explanatory annexes. Then, the draft treaty can be presented to the various nation states, and they can be solicited to join the treaty. In my opinion, this text is the most promising starting point since it takes away the abstract nature of the problem or its solution. The draft can be discussed, text changes will be made, and the treatment of animals will be reflected.
WDA:
4. How can measures for the protection of dogs and cats be anchored regulatorily within the Union?
Martin Buschmann MEP:
In China, dogs and cats have recently been indirectly declared pets through a livestock catalog. Dogs are officially categorized as “companions” in China, which makes their management, slaughter and the consumption of their meat seem increasingly absurd. The logic that domestic animals are not eaten is gaining ground. This is almost self-evident in Europe. The member states of the EU have therefore long since gone much further than China and have banned the slaughter of dogs and cats for meat. A regulation at the EU level therefore probably did not seem necessary until now, only a ban on the trade in dog and cat fur was imposed. Since no member state is in favor of the consumption of dogs and cats, finding a majority for a prohibitive law should be easy. On the other hand, if the consumption of dogs and cats is not a problem in the EU, it is quite difficult to justify the necessity of drafting and adopting an EU-wide law. Currently, in connection with the suppression of the puppy trade and questions of animal hygiene, the possibility of addressing a ban on the consumption of dogs and cats seems to be the most likely.
WDA:
5. Is there a chance to use the EU animal welfare platform, which is primarily focused on farm animal husbandry, for the concern of the WDA?
Martin Buschmann MEP:
The “Platform for Animal Welfare” launched by the EU Commission is open to all stakeholders interested in animal welfare. It brings together stakeholders from industry, scientists, representatives of member states and NGOs to work together to improve animal welfare through information, collaboration and networking. The platform consists of 75 members, and it is currently not possible to apply for new membership. It therefore seems most promising to contact one of the member NGOs in order to introduce the concerns of the WDA through them.
WDA:
6. How can the role of an animal welfare officer support this?
Martin Buschmann MEP:
Animal welfare officers are employed by various companies to comply with the requirements of the EU regulation on animal welfare. The animal welfare officers work in slaughterhouses but also in research centers to ensure compliance with regulations, conditions and requirements in the interest of animal welfare. They are usually professionally trained and can thus also provide professional advice to the company. In connection with the ban on the consumption of dogs and cats, there is no need for animal welfare officers, as no company in the EU is involved in the production of dog or cat meat.