FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 1 Practical experience on border controls Eric Van Tilburgh FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment Department for Animal Welfare

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 2 Registration of dogs in Belgium Mandatory since 1/9/1998 –reasons?  number of dogs euthanized in pet shelters  control of the national market –when? before change of owner before age of 4 months –% of dogs registered? estimation from 50 to 90 %

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 3

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registered * BE * SK * CZ * NL * HU * ES * FR 950 * DE 422 * PL 374 * Others deaths * 217 lost * 62 stolen

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 6 I new dogs II imports (intracom trade) ?

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 7 Shelters: registrations Type of ownerLicence Number Flanders/Walloons/Bruss Registration Breeder Amateurs HK 10/ Professionnal Breeder HK12/ Commercial Breeders HK 14/ Others Non-licenced-private persons ? ? either new puppies or acquired outside of the register (abroad or not-ID )

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT ? Amateur Breeders= between3 et 10 litters/year for 719 breeders BE (98 %) outside-BE: breeders?

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT ? PROFESSIONAL breeders= >10 litters/year without import for 118 breeders BE (90%) outside-BE: breeders? 11 breeders provide 40 % (6 700) 3 breeders provide more than 1000 (top 1142)

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT ? COMMERCIAL breeders=>10 litters/year + import for 82 breeders * BE = 38 % * SK * CZ * NL = 62 % * HU * PL breeders provide % of the total number 3 breeders more than (top 4089 from which 125 BE, 2285 CZ, 1674 SK)

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT ? Shelters: dogs without ID registrations from which BE

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT ? registrations BE = 93 % * NL * ES * FR 896 * SK 290 = 7 % * HU 156 * CZ 84 * PL 72 * others 569 or born (non-licenced, 1-2 litters/year), or acquired without-ID or acquired abroad Without licence:

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT « imports » ? * SK * CZ * NL * HU 2649 * ES * FR 950 * DE 422 * PL 374 * Others 530 Mortality BE 1,4% NL 2,2% CZ 4,9 % SK 5%

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT « imports » ? 91% via 4 suppliers * SK1 : 2322 for 1 BE * SK2 : 1292 for 1 BE * SK3 : 3129 for 7-8 * SK4 : 3966 for 7-8 Slovakia ABIEC / TRACES 1210 either not imported or not registered 90% via 2 suppliers * CZ1 : for 8 BE * CZ2 : for 3 BE Czech Republic 8042 ABIEC / TRACES 798 either not imported or not registered Collection centers ?

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT « imports » ? 98% via 1 supplier (1 158) NL ABIEC / TRACES 4162 either not imported or not registered FR 950 ABIEC / 123 TRACES 827 either not imported or not registered

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT « imports » ? Galgos? ES ABIEC / 225 TRACES 1236 either not imported or not registered

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 17 European passport conclusions –registration is necessary in order to allow for efficient implementation of R998/2003 –practicing veterinarians often underestimate the importance of the European passport and the data recorded herein - TRACES system is not always reliable => The situation today implies serious risks regarding public health as well as animal health and welfare

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT Modifications in European Passport - Passports to be delivered by a vet -Owner has to sign on the first page -A plastic film has to be applied across the dog’s ID BUT: -Registration is still not mandatory (vet has to keep register) -Passport can be replaced by another - No link between TRACES and passport 18

FPS PUBLIC HEALTH, FOOD CHAIN SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT 19 Recommendations ensure tracability (”decisive element” in R998/2003 according to the Court of Justice of the EU) –registration of all dogs going from one MS to another preferably registration of all dogs –consultation of all registration data by competent authorities of MS 1 European database search engine linked to different national databases –ban on the systematic replacement of passports –raising awareness of veterinarians on the importance of correct implementation of the European passport