Animal protection under EU rules: Ukraine is preparing legislative changes

In Ukraine, proposals for legislative changes will be prepared to strengthen protection for domestic, stray, and wild animals from cruelty. To carry out this work, the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine has established a special working group. According to me.gov.ua.

The group includes around 30 people. Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi has been appointed its head.

The group’s work will cover the following areas:

• analyzing current legislation and preparing proposals to bring Ukrainian animal protection rules into line with European Union standards;
• assessing how the laws are applied in practice and what obstacles prevent effective animal protection;
• improving cooperation among government agencies, local authorities, public organizations, and experts.

The group’s work is intended to lay the groundwork for future legislative amendments. However, the ministry has not yet named the specific laws it plans to amend or said when the proposals might be submitted to the government or parliament for consideration.

This year, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has already approved at first reading a draft law on bringing Ukrainian legislation closer to European standards for the humane treatment of animals. Its main goal is to improve rules on the treatment of animals and foster greater humaneness throughout society.

A petition on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine website calling for tougher criminal penalties for physical violence against animals has received the 25,000 signatures required for consideration. It took less than five days from the time it was published to gather support for the initiative.

In Mykolaiv, the Municipal Enterprise “Animal Protection Center” will represent the interests of the Mykolaiv City Territorial Community in cases involving animal cruelty.

We previously reported:

• A bag, a leash, and a microchip: Mykolaiv residents are asked how to get pet ownership in order
• Mykolaiv strengthens animal protection in criminal proceedings
• Ukrainians alarmed by “new strict rules” for dogs and cats: what’s true and what isn’t
• The Cabinet of Ministers acknowledges gaps in penalties for animal cruelty
• Cats and dogs finally get their due: the state officially sides with our four-legged friends