Despite the recently introduced derogation for racing and training flights, new European animal health legislation (aka “Animal Health Law” or AHL) still like a dark cloud over all other activities in our pigeon racing sector.

End last year it became known that this legislation in their fight against bird flu the entire European pigeon sport threatened to restrict. For any movement of racing pigeons from one European country to another will be a from October 21st government-issued health certificate required. In addition, the sender must be able to prove that the pigeons to be shipped to another country have stayed in their loft continuously for at least 21 days prior to departure. In addition, carrier pigeons are allowed moved from one country to another only between government-registered consignors and consignees. This affects both professionals and hobbyists. In other words, it affects everyone who keeps carrier pigeons.

As today is known, thanks to the lobbying of the FCI, the KBDB and others national European pigeon associations avoided a total catastrophe will. The European Commission has approved the law change so that races and training flights without certification and 21 Days of stay can be continued.

In spite of of this important victory for the sport, the law continues to apply to everyone other types of movements not related to the release of pigeons aim abroad. A 21-day presence at the point of departure and a health certificate are still required for these shipments.

Specifically, this concerns movements to and from another European country as a function of:

– Exchange, breeding together, trade, giving away etc. of pigeons with/to a pigeon fancier abroad;
– The return of retrieved pigeons by a race organizer;
– repatriation of lost pigeons;
– Transporting pigeons to an exhibition, award ceremony or other event;
– Transporting pigeons to a photographer, judge, laboratory, batting competition, …;
– …

Even if the pigeons only go abroad for a very short time (e.g. a few hours) before they can return to their country of origin can spend another 21 days at the registered place of departure abroad, and a health certificate must be issued again (this one times by the foreign authorities) to allow the shipment.

It goes without saying that this legislation in practice extremely expensive and unfeasible consequences will have and not only that economic structure our industry harms, but also negative effects on the welfare who will have carrier pigeons.

In addition, the measures imposed by the legislator for carrier pigeons are completely unnecessary, since they only in very rare cases become infected with avian influenza themselves and certainly never spread the disease to other birds transfer. This is supported by the latest scientific research and publications.

For these reasons, the new interest group Racing Pigeon Partners (RPP) is starting a petition, which will be distributed across Europe to avoid the disproportionate consequences of the Denounce legislation and consult with the relevant authorities political decision-makers at national and European level to promote.

RPP (https://racingpigeonpartners.com) has recently been featured by PIPA, Herbots, Pigen, De Duif, Bricon and EPW established the mission, the economic interests of all to defend pigeon fanciers.

RPP loads everyone to sign the petition in their own name in order to to express their support for this cause. Every signature counts.

she find the petition via the link below. do not hesitate to share this petition with anyone who is interested. the The future of our pigeon sport depends on it.

https://openpetition.eu/!ybxjm