Finnish report: An investigation would curb problems with dog breeding through monitoring criteria and ethical delegation
As we have been reporting, there is a surge of regulatory efforts to address concerns about the health and welfare of pedigree dogs, especially brachycephalic breeds, in several countries. The potential impact on not only dog breeders and pedigree dog organizations, but also on dog owners and even veterinarians may be considerable, as well as on many stakeholders in the pet industry. It is apparent that some of these efforts are proceeding unilaterally rather than collaboratively, however, discussions about these issues have been ongoing for many years, without the change that many think is necessary. See, for example: Challenges for Pedigree Dogs: Regulatory Enforcement of Brachycephalic Dogs in the Netherlands; which includes links to responses from various other stakeholders and kennel clubs.
The regulatory body (Finnish Food Authority) in Finland has published the Summary (below) on 02 Sep 2020. This is a brief overview of recommendations based on an investigation (separately reported see links to the original 89-page report and English translation, below). This report follows numerous other investigations and regulatory decisions being undertaken in various countries, prompted by concerns for dog health and welfare, especially, but not necessarily limited to, brachycephalic breeds.
IPFD has been following and reporting on such developments, and where possible, adding links to actions being taken by national kennel clubs. The Finnish KC is an IPFD partner.
Please see The Finnish KC's website for commentary on the Report at: KOIRIEN TERVEYTTÄ PITÄÄ PYSTYÄ EDISTÄMÄÄN TEHOKKAASTI KOKO SUOMEN KOIRAKANNASSA. (Finnish) Article Title, English Translation: IT MUST BE POSSIBLE TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF DOGS EFFECTIVELY IN THE WHOLE OF FINLAND. In her commentary, Kirsi Saino focuses on cooperation and "... emphasizes that health problems must be addressed in the entire dog population if sustainable results are to be achieved."
An investigation would curb problems with dog breeding through monitoring criteria and ethical delegation
September 2, 2020, from: Dated link: https://www.ruokavirasto.fi/sv/privatkunder/sallskaps--och-hobbydjur/nyheter/en-utredning-skulle-tygla-problem-med-hundavel-genom-overvakningskriterier-och-etisk-delegation/ See Internet archives: An investigation would curb problems with dog breeding through monitoring criteria and ethical delegation - Livsmedelsverket (archive.org)
NOTE from IPFD: The summary page posted by the Finnish Food Authority shown below is translated by Google from the original.
According to an investigation carried out by the Natural Resources Institute (Luke) together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (JSM) and the National Food Administration, the aim is to eliminate dog breeding that causes the animal suffering and hereditary diseases with the help of monitoring criteria. For some dog breeds, the criteria would exclude a large proportion of the dogs from breeding. The inquiry also recommends that an ethical delegation be established for breeding and that the veterinarians' reporting obligation be extended.
The monitoring criteria described in the investigation focus on problems due to shortened skull, but also include criteria that can be applied to a larger group of dogs. Shortened skull, ie. excessive brachycephaly, increases the risk of the animal suffering from a number of hereditary defects and diseases that impair the animal's quality of life and cause the animal suffering and significant inconvenience. The problems are associated with, among other things, the animal's breathability, set of teeth, reproductive ability and the health of the eyes, skin and digestive tract. The investigation states that the breeding of an excessively short skull shape can be considered contrary to Finland's current Animal Welfare Act. The Animal Welfare Act prohibits such breeding that may cause the animal suffering or significant inconvenience to the animal's health or well-being.
According to the proposed monitoring criteria, a breeding dog must not show serious malformations associated with bracycephalic anatomy that increase the risk of significant harm to the animal's well - being, or have diseases or symptoms due to excessively short skull shape. The criteria are based on the principle that a dog with a minor defect or disease can be used for breeding if the other party in the combination does not have the same defect or disease.
For some of the criteria, a transition period of e.g. five years, when breeders have time to find individuals who meet the monitoring criteria for breeding and to refine the dogs' anatomy so that it becomes healthier. The breeder must be able to show that the animals he or she uses for breeding meet the requirements of animal welfare legislation. For many breeds, this means that breeding dogs must undergo several health examinations before mating.
The inconveniences to well-being caused by excessively short skull shape, as well as other exaggerated traits, can be permanently averted only by changing these traits in a more normal direction by means of breeding. Due to the monitoring criteria, a large proportion of dogs are eliminated from breeding within certain breeds. In the case of some breeds, in the light of current knowledge, it is also not possible to change the shape of the skull through breeding, as these breeds do not have any genetic forms that give a normal skull. In such a situation, the processing can continue e.g. using racial crosses.
In connection with the introduction of the monitoring criteria, it is also necessary to consider various ways of intervening in the import of such animals for which the breeding does not meet the requirements of Finnish animal welfare legislation. A step in this direction is to increase the sellers 'obligation to provide information about the problems that in the investigation are said to cause significant inconvenience to the well-being of dogs and their significance for the dogs' well-being.
The investigation also proposes an obligation for the treating veterinarian to report hereditary defects and diseases that have required care of an animal that is used for breeding or that impairs the animal's quality of life. In addition, the establishment of an ethical delegation for breeding is recommended. This is an impartial, consulting expert body that assists the authorities in difficult issues concerning animal breeding.
In order to make the boundary between permitted and prohibited breeding clearer, the inquiry considers it necessary to develop legislation on animal welfare. In connection with the new law on animal welfare, an ordinance is needed on which the supervision that enforces the law can be based, as well as instructions on supervision. The regulation shall prescribe in more detail, for example, the hereditary defects to which the veterinarians' obligation to report applies. It must also be prescribed for such defects that clearly exclude the animal from breeding.
More information:
Chief Inspector Sari Salminen, tel. +358 29 520 4971, sari.salminen@ruokavirasto.fi (Animal Welfare Monitoring)
Specialist Tiina Pullola, tel. +358 29 516 2108, tiina.pullola@mmm.fi (Animal Welfare Law )
Researcher Riitta Kempe, .kempe @ luke.fi (the author of the report)
IPFD NOTE: Table of Contents of the investigation file below:
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An investigation would curb problems with dog breeding through monitoring criteria and ethical delegation
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