Lithuania Proposes Stricter Animal Welfare Laws, Including Breeding Rules

Lithuania's State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) is seeking significant changes to the country's Animal Welfare and Protection Law to address persistent issues in animal care. The VMVT has submitted proposals to the Ministry of Environment aimed at creating clearer regulations and improving the effectiveness of animal protection measures.

"We often hear the question in public discourse: why doesn't the VMVT take stricter action? However, our capabilities are directly dependent on the current legal framework. We are a supervisory institution – we implement laws, we do not create them," stated VMVT representatives. "Therefore, seeing the problems that arise in practice, we have submitted specific proposals to the Ministry of Environment, which, in our opinion, would allow for significantly more effective protection of animals from neglect and cruelty."

One of the most crucial proposals is to mandate that animals be bred only with documented proof of their origin. This requirement aims to curb irresponsible and uncontrolled breeding, promote responsible practices, improve animal health monitoring, and reduce illegal trade. The VMVT also seeks to refine the definition of a pet breeder, emphasizing individuals who breed animals to maintain specific breed characteristics, a direction consistent with European Union policy.

The VMVT also proposes more precise definitions of animal cruelty. Currently, stricter housing requirements apply to entities supervised by the VMVT, but private individuals often fall into a legal gray area. "In practice, we encounter situations where it is evident that the animal's living conditions do not meet the principles of animal welfare, but the current legal framework does not allow for stricter measures," the VMVT noted. To address this, the VMVT, in collaboration with professors from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, has developed guidelines for assessing animal cruelty to assist officials in complex cases.