News updated on April 26th 2021
European Delegation Law was published on May 23rd on Gazzetta Ufficiale (the Italian official law bulletin), therefore, the deadline for the implementation Law is May 8th 2022
21st of april 2021
A concrete step forward to contrast epidemics and pandemics. Parrots, armadillos, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and all exotic animals will no longer be imported and kept in Italy. Last night the Italian Senate finally approved the European Delegation Law which contains Article 14 letter q), an amendment first signed by the LeU (Liberi e Uguali) representative, Loredana De Petris, with the positive opinion of the Government, providing a ban on the importation and detention of exotic and wild animals, and restrictions on trade in domestic animals. A ban which will have to be made effective within twelve months.
Wild animals are reservoirs of many diseases that can spillover, evolve into pandemics, such as in the case of avian flu. It is therefore essential to reduce cases of contact as much as possible, as required by the "One Health" approach, which recognizes the close interdependence between human health, animal health and the environment.
To promote and support this change, last year LAV launched its Manifesto "Let's not go back as before" to act on the causes of the Covid-19 pandemics and avoid the spreading of new ones.