Minister of Agriculture replied to interpellation concerning establishing of register of pet animals
The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder replied to the interpellation concerning the establishing of the register of pet animals (No 235), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Aadu Must, Ester Tuiksoo, Jüri Ratas, Lauri Laasi, Mailis Reps, Priit Toobal, Tarmo Tamm, Viktor Vassiljev, Vladimir Velman and Yana Toom on 15 November.
According to Seeder’s explanations, the Ministry of Agriculture had repeatedly considered the proposals of animal protection and other organisations to amend the Act by adding a provision according to which records would be maintained on pet animals in a national register of pet animals.
As a result of the meetings with the relevant organisations, a conclusion has been reached that a single database is necessary. However, in view of the work done so far with the aim of establishing a single database of pet animals, and the information technology solutions and opportunities created, the establishing of a national register of pet animals is no longer expedient. Registers are based on a single and unique number combination for each animal on the basis of which it can be identified. This is most effectively done by a microchip. “Before an obligation is imposed on owners of pet animals to register their pets, first of all dogs, there has to be a national obligation for animals to be microchipped,” Seeder underlined. At the same time he explained that, in the discussions held so far, local governments had not reached a consensus in this sphere. There is no social agreement on this issue. In Seeder’s opinion, it is still a logical step that will have to be reached in the future development. He added that, by now, microchipping has already become the most widespread way of marking animals. By the present moment, three registers with a web environment have been established for the registration of pet animals in Estonia which are all essentially similar for pet owners and allow quick identification of the data of the owner of an animal if it has been entered in the register.
The Minister of Culture Rein Lang replied to four interpellations. They were the following:
the interpellation concerning the activities of the Integration and Migration Foundation “Our People” (MISA) (No 209), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor, Helmen Kütt, Jaak Allik, Jaan Õunapuu, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Kajar Lember, Kalev Kotkas, Marianne Mikko, Neeme Suur and Rannar Vassiljev on 12 November;
the interpellation concerning the future of Tallinn Zoological Gardens (No 216), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Aadu Must, Enn Eesmaa, Ester Tuiksoo, Kalev Kallo, Lauri Laasi, Mailis Reps, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Olga Sõtnik, Peeter Võsa, Valeri Korb, Viktor Vassiljev, Vladimir Velman and Yana Toom on 14 November;
the interpellation concerning the digitalisation of cinemas (No 218), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Aadu Must, Aivar Riisalu, Enn Eesmaa, Ester Tuiksoo, Mailis Reps, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Peeter Võsa, Priit Toobal, Valeri Korb, Viktor Vassiljev and Vladimir Velman on 14 November;
the interpellation concerning the reorganisation of the Russian Theatre (No 234), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Enn Eesmaa, Mailis Reps, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Olga Sõtnik, Priit Toobal, Valeri Korb, Viktor Vassiljev, Vladimir Velman and Yana Toom on 15 November.
During the open microphone, Mihhail Stalnuhhin took the floor.
The Riigikogu Press Service