Pet Purchase Permit - Regulation Wallonia Belgium July 1, 2022

IPFD Board member Barbara Thiel writes...

"Here comes another law regarding companion animal welfare, this time from Belgium.

From 01.07.2022, anyone wishing to buy a pet in Wallonia (the French-speaking part of Belgium) or take one from a shelter will have to produce a "pet keeping permit".

This is issued by the home municipality and proves that the person in question has not been banned from keeping animals due to violations of the Animal Welfare Act. However, this does not entail a certificate / test of competence.

The new regulation will only have a direct impact on a tiny part of the population. Because just like in Germany, actual convictions for animal welfare offenses are also a rarity in Belgium (the article speaks of 40 people who have been banned from keeping animals since 2019).

However, this new requirement is also primarily intended to help curb impulse purchases. The permit must be applied for at the municipality before purchase or takeover and is only valid for 30 days. Foreign buyers have to register with the "Service Public de Wallonie" (SPW) and wait for the green light.

Acquiring an animal without presenting the relevant document is punishable and the animal can be confiscated immediately. Therefore, this new regulation, which at first glance seems rather toothless, is perhaps not so wrong. Especially when you know that the notorious dog market "La Batte" (Liège) is also located in Wallonia and that puppies and kittens are still sold in pet shops in Belgium."

For important information on this regulation see Wallonia's official website:

• Article Publié le 13.06.2022 - Mis à jour le 16.06.2022:
  • Bien-être animal : le permis de détention devient effectif dès le 1er juillet

• SEE the FAQ - Permis de détention des animaux de compagnie

See the - Ministerial circular explaining how to obtain the extract from the central file available on the bien-etreanimal.be website…

• Circulaire ministérielle du 13 juin 2022 relative à l’extrait du fichier central en vue de l’acquisition, l’adoption ou l’achat d’un animal conformément à l’article D. 144 du Livre Ier du Code de l’Environnement et à l’article 46 du Code Wallon du Bien-être Animal

Version 2022/01

(Eng. Google Translation, text snippet only: Ministerial circular of 13 June 2022 relating to the extract from the central file in for the acquisition, adoption or purchase of an animal in accordance with Article D. 144 of Book I of the Environmental Code and article 46 of the Walloon Code Animal Welfare) Release 2022/01

Access official legal animal welfare documents at WALLEX which is the site of the Public Service of Wallonia publishing legal information related to the organization, activity and competences of the Walloon Region.

Unofficial English translation of the webpage and FAQ (June 24, 2022)

Wallonia Belgium pet purchase permit July 2022 - unofficial English version.docx