Parliamentarian committee approves draft law on ownership, breeding of dangerous animals

CAIRO – 18 April 2022: The Agriculture and Irrigation Committee of the House of Representatives approved a draft law to issue a law regulating the possession of dangerous animals and dogs.

This came during a previous meeting, headed by Representative Hisham Al-Hosary, considering the draft law submitted by Representative Ahmed Al-Sigini and (60) deputies (more than a tenth of the parliament’s members).

The committee postponed the discussion of the draft law’s articles to a later session, provided that a meeting will be held between the parties concerned with the draft law to present a clear vision by identifying the competent authority to implement the provisions of the draft law, taking into account the experience of the Ministry of Housing in curbing the phenomenon of dogs in new cities.

The draft law includes 5 articles of promulgation, where the first article states that without prejudice to the international agreements to which the Arab Republic of Egypt is a party, and taking into account the provisions of the Agriculture Law promulgated by Law No. 53 of 1966 and the Environment Law promulgated by Law No. 4 of 1994, the provisions of the accompanying law in the matter of Regulating the possession of dangerous animals and the acquisition of dogs.

Article 2 stipulates that it is prohibited to possess, handle or breed dangerous animals. As an exception to the provision of the first paragraph of this article, it is permissible to possess or handle dangerous animals with a license from the competent authority in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the executive regulations of this law, for scientific research institutions whose work requires the availability of dangerous animals, zoos, animal parks, circuses, centers specialized in the care and shelter of animals, and in other cases specified by the executive regulation.

The licensing system does not apply to public authorities.

Whoever uses a dangerous animal or dog to assault a person shall be punished with imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, and the penalty shall be imprisonment for a period of no less than ten years if the assault leads to permanent disability, and life imprisonment if the assault leads to death.

In March, the House of Representatives discussed a draft law on the ownership of “dangerous animals and dogs,” whereby owning dangerous animals or breeding them is illegal.

Research institutions that require dangerous animals, zoos, circuses, and animal rehabilitation centers may own or host dangerous animals only with a license that also entails conditions and procedures. Meanwhile, public entities are exempt from the law.

Owners of dangerous animals must take the needed measures, so the animals do not escape, produce documents that include all their medical history, and provide adequate habitats and food for them.

According to the draft law, the animals must have proper healthcare, be vaccinated against the diseases the concerned minister.