Minister of Health Etienne Schneider and Minister for the Environment Carole Dieschbourg provided a joint response to a parliamentary question submitted by CSV MP Françoise Hetto-Gaasch. The MP namely expressed concern for the welfare of animals and enquired whether the authorities carry out checks during heatwaves.
The ministers detailed that the Veterinary Inspectorate receives an average of six complaints per day during heatwaves, namely concerning whether animals have enough water. The complaints also come from both private individuals and animal protection agencies. As it happens, the authorities carry out regular welfare checks throughout the year, regardless of heatwaves. These checks often focus on farming businesses and concern whether animals have sufficient and guaranteed access to water.
There are also heatwave-specific regulations, namely that farmers are allowed to build temporary shelters for animals that are based in fields, and do not have to request authorisation from the Ministry of the Environment to do so. However, these shelters must be deconstructed when heatwaves end.
Permanent shelters require permission from the ministry, as dictated in the nature protection law.
