2021/0572/B
EC/EFTA
BE Belgique
  • C90A - Bien être des animaux et animaux de compagnie
2021-12-02
2021-09-08

The draft decree concerns the use and trade of collars that give electric stimuli in dogs and cats.

Draft Decree amending the Law of 14 August 1986 on the protection and welfare of animals and the Decree of 13 July 2018 amending the Law of 14 August 1986 on the protection and welfare of animals within the context of the sixth state reform

The draft decree lays down the prohibition from 1 January 2027 until:

- The use of collars capable of administering electric stimuli in dogs and cats
- The marketing of such collars: (trading means: placing on the market, offering for sale, holding, acquiring, transporting, exhibiting for sale, exchange, sale and transfer it for free or for consideration);
- The wearing of such collars by dogs and cats.
The prohibition includes the training devices with remote control, as well as anti-barking collars.
The following shall be excluded from the prohibition: the use of the collar coupled with an invisible fence. In this case, an area is demarcated with an underground fence. When the animal approaches the fence, the collar automatically provides an electric stimulus. From the point of view of animal welfare, this use has been found acceptable.
The foreseen transitional period (until 1 January 2027) applies to all users and all types of use.