This booming industry rife with cases of consumer fraud, tax evasion, biosecurity concerns and animal abuse cannot be left unregulated any longer. The EU and Member States must take action to curb this serious form of organised crime, as it threatens European citizens, public health and the Single Market. 

Eurogroup for Animals advocates for the European Commission to:

- Acknowledge transnational illegal trade of animals in the Communication on an EU Strategy to tackle organised crime (2021-2025)

- Establish an EU taskforce to tackle the cross-border illegal trade of animals and ensure funding for enforcement projects under the European Regional Development Fund and Internal Security Fund to encourage close cooperation between EU Member States, Europol, Eurojust and all the other relevant stakeholders

- Establish harmonised and dissuasive fines to sanction animal trafficking, in proportion to the gravity of the offense

- Link the EU Strategy to tackle organised crime (2021-2025) with the EU Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking, the new post-2020 Action Plan and the revision of the Environmental Crime Directive

Read the policy briefing