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What you need to know about France’s new animal rights law

Landmark legislation aimed at tackling animal cruelty has been approved by French lawmakers - here's what the new law says on topics including abandonment of pets, bestiality, circus animals and bullfighting.

Published: 18 November 2021 12:06 CET
Updated: 18 November 2021 15:19 CET
Puppies
Sales of dogs and cats will be restricted in pet shops. Photo: David Edne

As well as the measures targeting circuses, the new law will raise the maximum penality for mistreating animals to up to five years in prison and a fine of €75,000, and will tighten restrictions on the sale of pets.

Loďc Dombreval, the LREM co-sponsor of the law, conceded that other controversial issues had not been included within the scope of the legislation, which won cross-party support in both houses of parliament.

“There will inevitably come a day when… we will debate sensitive issues such as hunting, such as bull-fighting, or some animal-rearing practices,” said the lawmaker, who is also a veterinarian.

Barbara Pompili, the French Ecology Minister, has said of the wide-reaching legislation: “To act in support of animal well-being is the mark of a conscious society and of its responsibility towards a fragile natural world. It is a sign of mature civilisation.”

Here’s what you need to know: 

Pet abandonment

The law makes sure that first-time buyers of cats or dogs would have to sign a ‘certificate of commitment and understanding’ before making their purchase. After the signed document is delivered to the authorities, future owners have seven days to change their mind – the idea is to prevent people from ‘impulsively’ buying pets only to abandon them later. 

READ ALSO France launches new plan to tackle abandonment of pets

The new law also strengthens already existing sanctions for the abandonment of a pet which currently stand at a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment and a €30,000 fine.

Sale of pets

Pet shops will not be able to sell dogs and cats from 2024 – and won’t be able to display them in shop windows. Only abandoned dogs and cats will be available for sale in pet stores, working with rescue shelters. 

Online pet sales will be banned, with the exception of websites of licensed breeders and pet stores. 

Sales of pets to minors will be banned, except with the parents’ consent.

Mistreatment of pets

French law already sanctions serious abuse against pets – the new legislation strengthens these sanctions, notably for abuse committed by children. 

The maximum penalty is now five years in prison and a €75,000 fine. 

The new law also makes it a crime to deliberately kill pets or otherwise tamed animals. However, judges may decide to punish animal abusers with mandatory educational courses on animal cruelty, rather than prison sentences at their discretion. 

READ ALSO White tiger seized at house in southeast France

Outside the criminal justice system, lessons on how to treat pets properly will be given in schools. 

Bestiality

Bestiality is already illegal in France, but the new law imposes stricter penalties on the filming and broadcasting of sexual acts committed on animals. Suggesting sexual activity with an animal on dating websites and apps will be sanctioned with a one-year prison sentence. 

Circuses, aquariums and wild animals

The new law will ban the display of wild animals in travelling circuses by 2028 and will prevent the breeding of wild animals for circus display by 2023. As of yet, there are no guidelines as to what to do with these animals from 2028 onwards – it is possible that circus owners will be able to hold onto their beasts, but not show them to the public. 

A commission has been set up to advise on how to better treat animals that are already being held captive. Fixed circuses (that don’t move around the country) are currently held to the same animal protection standards as zoos. 

Aquariums are also targeted. Dolphin and orca shows will be banned from 2026, as will the captive reproduction of these animals – except in cases where such reproduction programmes are being used for scientific research or in sanctuaries. 

Animal shows will also be banned in discos and private parties. From 2023, wild animals will not be allowed to be shown on TV variety shows and game shows. Bear and wolf taming will also be banned. 

READ ALSO French court rejects attempt to outlaw bullfighting

There are currently registered in France 850 circus animals, 21 dolphins, four orcas and five bear trainers. 

The breeding of American mink and other wild species for fur will be banned altogether.

Hunting and bullfighting 

The law does not include any extra protections for livestock or other animals used in agriculture. There are no proposals for changes in the laws around hunting and bullfighting can also continue.

Often thought of as a Spanish thing, bullfighting also has a long history in south west France, although as the activity becomes increasingly controversial many local authorities have put in place bans.

READ ALSO Why hunting is becoming an election issue in France 

Member comments

  1. Overall fantastic news. The issue will now boil down to enforcement. As with many other laws, whilst the legislation is in place, the enforcement is too often lacking.

  3. I welcome any law which helps stop maltreatment of any animal. But fail to see why these are not effective immediately.

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PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

Factcheck: Is France really trying to ban speaking English at the Paris Olympics?

A resolution by a group of French MPs to 'say non to English at the Paris Olympics' has generated headlines - but will athletes and visitors really be required to speak French?

Published: 3 May 2024 10:10 CEST
Factcheck: Is France really trying to ban speaking English at the Paris Olympics?

In a resolution adopted on Thursday, France’s Assemblée Nationale urged organisers of the 2024 Paris Games, as well as athletes, trainers and journalists, to use French as much as possible.

Annie Genevard, the sponsor of the resolution from the right-wing Les Républicains party, expressed alarm to fellow MPs that “the Olympic Games reflect the loss of influence of our language.”

The French MP’s resolution has garnered headlines, but does it actually mean anything?

Citing examples of English slogans in international sport, she added: “The fight for the French language … is never finished, even in the most official spheres.

“Let’s hope that ‘planche a roulettes’ replaces skateboard and ‘rouleau du cap’ point break (a surfing term), but I have my doubts.”

She’s right to doubt it – in French the skateboarding event is ‘le skateboard’, while the new addition of break-dancing is ‘le breaking‘.

But what does this actually mean?

In brief, not a lot. This is a parliamentary resolution, not a law, and is totally non-binding.

The Games are organised by the International Olympic Committee, the Paris 2024 Organising Committee and Paris City Hall – MPs do not have a role although clearly the Games must follow any French domestic laws that parliament passes.

The French parliament has got slightly involved with security issues for the Games, passing laws allowing for the use of enhanced security and surveillance measures including the use of facial recognition and drone technology that was previously outlawed in France.

So what do the Olympic organisers think of English?

The Paris 2024 organisers have shown that they have no problem using English – which is after all one of the two official languages of the Olympics. The other being French.

The head of the organising committee Tony Estanguet speaks fluent English and is happy to do so while official communications from the Games organisers – from social media posts to the ticketing website – are all available in both French and English.

Even the slogan for the Games is in both languages – Ouvrir grand les jeux/ Games wide open (although the pun only really works in French).

In fact the Games organisers have sometimes drawn criticism for their habit (common among many French people, especially younger ones) of peppering their French with English terms, from “le JO-bashing” – criticism of the Olympics – to use of the English “challenges” rather than the French “defis”.

The 45,000 Games volunteers – who are coming from dozens of countries – are required only to speak either French or English and all information for volunteers has been provided in both languages.

Paris local officials are also happy to use languages other than French and the extra signage that is going up in the city’s public transport system to help people find their way to Games venues is printed in French, English and Spanish.

Meanwhile public transport employees have been issued with an instant translation app, so that they can help visitors in multiple languages.

In short, visitors who don’t speak French shouldn’t worry too much – just remember to say bonjour.

Official language  

So why is French an official language of the Olympics? Well that’s easy – the modern Games were the invention of a Frenchman, the aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin, in the late 19th century.

Some of his views – for example that an Olympics with women would be “impractical, uninteresting (and) unaesthetic” – have thankfully been consigned to the dustbin of history, but his influence remains in the language.

The International Olympic Committee now has two official languages – English and French.

Official communications from the IOC are done in both languages and announcements and speeches at the Games (for example during medal ceremonies) are usually done in English, French and the language of the host nation, if that language is neither English nor French.

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