No.6 Convent Place, Gibraltar                Tel: 70071     Fax: 74524

Press Release

An Ordinance to regulate the sale of pet animals in Gibraltar comes to operation today 12 January 2006.

The Ordinance cited as the Pet Animals (Sales) Ordinance 2005, will require any person keeping a shop selling pet animals to be licensed by the Chief Environmental Health Officer who will ensure that the animals are kept under proper conditions, will not be sold at an early age and are healthy. Such licences will only be valid for one year.

No other method of selling pets is permitted, and any person who sells pets without a licence shall be guilty of an offence. In addition, anyone who sells a pet to a child under 12 years of age, whether a licence holder or not, is guilty of an offence.

Guidance notes based on the provisions of the Ordinance are available from the Environmental Agency. This will include detailed conditions to be met as regards the accommodation of animals; stocking numbers and densities; registers; health; disease and acclimatisation; food and drink; hygiene and waste disposal; sales and pets care advice.

The Minister for the Environment, The Hon J Netto said that the introduction of this piece of legislation will be welcomed by not only those who care for the welfare of pet animals, but by the community at large as it will offer greater protection when purchasing a pet animal. The Ordinance aims not only to ensure that pets are well cared for, but also to assist in global efforts to protect wild animals.