Following the ban of equine slaughter in Greece by Law 4711/2020 according to the written recommendations of the Hellenic Animal Welfare Federation, a very important development for the protection of equines is the integration of the European Regulation 2015/262 on the equidae registration and identification. First announcement was made by the Minister of Rural Development and Food Mr. Voridis on 27.11.2020. Unfortunately, the relevant ministerial decision was delayed due to government reshuffle and many other obstacles and it was signed at last on January 25th, 2021.
Today, March 9th the regulation was applied and issued with number 311/62043 / 9.3.2021 regarding the additional measures for the implementation of the Implementing Regulations (EU) 2015/262 for the registration and identification of equidae.
Unfortunately, the whole process of issuing the Official Gazette was deliberately delayed because on April 21st , 2021, the EU has voted to upgrade the regulation for equidae passports.
In order not to allow this delay or cancellation of incorporation of the legislation, we have sent an open letter to the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and launched a brainstorming through our social media.
A few days later Mrs Zanni, special advisor of the General Secretarial of the Prime Minister contacted us and we would like to thank her, so immediately we had a positive answer from the competent Ministry.
Special thanks to our legal advisors in Greece Mr. Georgios Nikopoulos, Ms. Mikaela Lymperopoulou and especially Mr. Nikopoulos for his impeccable handling during the filing and investigation concerning our written complaint and report to the European Commission.
Mr. Andreas Erler, lawyer in Brussels from the Animal Welfare Intergroup as well as the organizations of which we are members who guided us throughout the process, the Hellenic Animal Welfare Federation and Eurogroup for Animals.
