Turkish Parliament approves animal protection law amendments
The Turkish Parliament Monday has approved the first five articles of a 17-article bill amending the Animal Protection Law.
Discussions on the bill will continue today.
New definitions, regulations
- The bill aims to modify the Animal Protection Law to include the consideration of human, animal, and environmental health.
- It mandates the clear definition of “owned” and “stray” animals within the Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed Law.
- To avoid confusion in implementation and because of the removal of the “catch-neuter-return” method, the definition of animal shelters will be updated.
- Animal shelters will now be defined as facilities that are established with permission from the Ministry and provide temporary housing and rehabilitation for animals until they are adopted.
- Animals housed in shelters will be registered in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s database to ensure accurate and up-to-date information.
Local government roles
- Local governments, in cooperation with voluntary organizations, will establish animal shelters to care for and rehabilitate stray animals until they are adopted.
- The principle that “domestic animals have the right to live according to their species-specific life conditions, and stray animals should be supported as much as owned animals” will be repealed.
Prohibitions, legal framework
- The law prohibits euthanasia except under specific conditions outlined in Article 9 of the Veterinary Services, Plant Health, Food and Feed Law.
- These conditions include cases where animals suffer from incurable diseases, pose risks to human and animal health, or exhibit uncontrollable negative behaviors.
Continued discussions
- Discussions on the remaining articles of the bill will continue today.
- TBMM Deputy Speaker Bekir Bozdag announced a recess after the fifth article was approved. The session will resume at 2:00 p.m.
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