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to their species-specific life conditions, and stray animals should be supported as much as owned animals” will be repealed.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.