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Below is shown the press release from Konstantinos Kiltidis of the Ministry of Rural Growth and Foods. It contains not only demonstrable untruths, but also wilful misinterpretations and distortions of existing Greek laws. Please see the response from THE PAN-HELLENIC ANIMAL WELFARE FEDERATION and THE COALITION IN DEFENCE OF ANIMALS IN GREECE (CIDAG), here.
GREEK DEMOCRACY
MINISTRY OF RURAL GROWTH AND FOODS
PRESS OFFICE
Athens, 24/6.2008
Press release
The Deputy Minister of Rural Growth and Food, Mr Konstantinos Kiltidis, prompted by allegations and evidence from the [Ministry] Veterinary and Animal Health Departments, of large scale, illegal movements of stray animals from many airports, harbours and land exits of [Greece], dispatched special written directives to the responsible Veterinary Authorities of the country in which he draws to the attention of all authorities to such "phenomena”, and calls on them to faithfully implement the current veterinary legislation.
The related document is also directed to SYKE [Greece], to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, to Customs Affairs, to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Commercial Shipping – the Port Police and the Department of Civil Aviation, to airport Directors, to the Department of Police Frontier Controls, to KEDKE and to the Greek Veterinary Association
Attached is the document from the Deputy Minister to the responsible authorities.
GREEK DEMOCRACY Athens 24.06.07
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT Protocol no. 258864
AND FOODS
GENERAL VETERINARY DEPARTMENT
SECTION: ANIMAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENT: Veterinary Health Control
TO: the recipients on distribution list
ADDRESS: Acharnon 2, 101 76
FURTHER INFORMATION: M. Foteinopoulos
TEL: 0030.210.212 5713
FAX: 0030.210.8252 673
e-mail: ka6u047@minagric.gr
SUBJECT: Illegal movement of stray animals
Based on information and facts at the disposal of the Ministry of Agriculture, it has come to our notice that co-ordinated, illegal transports of stray animals to other countries within the European community, are taking place on a large scale from airports, harbours and land exits in Greece. Usually, the individuals [involved] present themselves as animal lovers who are dispatching the animals for ‘adoption and a better life.’
For some time now, our country has undertaken many pioneering measures for the protection of stray animals and in combination with Community legislation, ensures their best possible existence. We draw attention to all the authorities involved to apply the current legislation to the letter and not to believe any of the animal loving sentiments or the threats of prosecution from those involved when they are impeded.
Bear in mind that some of these animals may potentially be stolen from their owners.
To assist controlling bodies who are unfamiliar with the veterinary legislation, we mention here the main points of the relevant regulations:
Each Greek citizen can maintain up to 2 domestic companion animals (dogs or cats) (Law 3170/2003 article 6)
Each privately owned companion animal should have an electronic identity chip, which is identified in his European passport and bears the Greek ISO code, if issued by a Greek veterinarian. The name of the owner is entered in the passport. The public and private veterinarians of each prefecture, have at their disposal the appliances for reading the electronic identity chips recorded in each passport and which identify the dog with the passport.
A passenger can travel with his 2 (maximum) companion animals
Animal welfare associations or other legal bodies cannot be owners of animals - only individuals (N. 3170 article 7)
Travel with companion animals cannot be with the purpose of change of ownership of animals, either by gift or sale (Regulation 998/2003/EU, article 3).
When a passenger’s passport is checked, if the passenger is travelling with a domestic animal, the animal’s passport must also be checked to ensure that the animals’ passport contains the name of the owner and that this coincides with that of the passenger.
A representative of the owner can accompany animals that belong to another owner, provided he has written authorisation for the transport that includes the details of the owner as recorded on the animal’s passport. The authorisation must be ratified by the authority responsible for ensuring that the signature is genuine. If a Greek passenger travels abroad he must sign a responsible declaration that he will return with his animals.
Owners of animals, who leave with their 1 or 2 animals on a pet passport and return without the animals with which they began the journey, must be checked for the illegal disposal of the animal/s to another owner, unless they certify the death of their animals. This control should be undertaken by random checks 10 or 20 days after departure, on the basis of the responsible declarations drawn up at departure.
Stray animals are under the supervision of the Municipalities, which are financed by the Ministry of Agricultural for their collection, sterilisation and return to their natural environment (N. 3170/03, (Article 7).
The adoption of stray animals must be proved with documents from the Municipalities. Ministerial Decision 280239/2003.
The Municipalities or Communities must complete the adoption documents with due care and responsibility drawing attention to those responsible that the process of transfer of ownership will be checked.
An individual (Greek or foreigner) can adopt up to a maximum of 2 animals.
Adoption with the aim of further adoption, is something that should be closely investigated.
Any movement of the animals must be accompanied by the passport as described in article 5 of regulation (EC 998/2003). Otherwise the transport in question is characterised as commercial transport and will be subject to article 10 Presidential Order 184/1996 (SANITARY CONTROL)
Commercial transports
Even 1 animal, if it travels unaccompanied (cargo), constitutes commercial transport and must be accompanied by the passport and a health certificate, from the responsible veterinary authority of the prefecture from where the animal is being sent and the TRACES document (directive 92/65/EU; Presidential Order 184/96 of A 137).
Transports of more than 5 animals accompanied by the owner or other representative of the owner are classed only as commercial transports and thus require a certificate from the Greek veterinary authority at the place of departure and the veterinary authority at the destination. If the recipients of commercial transports number more than one, a certificate is required for each separate recipient.
In case of any queries on the above information, or if the controlling authority encounters difficulty in making a decision, they are requested to contact the veterinary authorities of the prefecture, or border controls on the attached list. If the advice of a veterinarian is not possible at that particular moment, the animals must be detained until their ownership, or where they came from, is clarified and a decision from the responsible veterinarian is possible. The details of the owner should be retained so that they are available to the authorities until a final decision is made.
Offenders of the above legislation, should be prosecuted according to Law 2538/97 of A 242, article 13.
Deputy Minister of Rural Growth and Food
Konstantinos Kiltidis
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