Dogs & Cats Breeding Facility / Hotel / Shelter / Dog Pound

Any physical person or legal entity may obtain a certificate if:

• A planning permit and a building permit have been issued for the premises.
• The construction and operational requirements for the welfare of animals are met.

The application (form ΕΖΣΓ01), can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or directly to the District Veterinary Offices and Rural Veterinary Stations of the Competent Authority:

Veterinary Services

Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment

1417 Nicosia

Tel: +357 22805249

Fax: +357 22805176

E-mail: director@vs.moa.gov.cy

Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/vs/vs.nsf/index_en/in

1. The application form must be accompanied by the following documents:

   (a) Top view of the premises specifying the animal and other spaces used, the technical facilities and the fences.

   (b) Copy of the planning license of the premises.

   (c) Copy of the building permit for the premises.

   (d) Copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company from the Department of Registrar of Companies and Intellectual Property or the Certificate of Registration of Society or Foundation from the Registrar of Societies and Foundations, where applicable.

   (e) Copy of authorization of the legal representative (in case that the applicant is a legal entity).

   A separate application must be submitted for each type of premises (breeding facility, a hotel or shelter for dogs and cats or a dog pound); i.e. a person that is active both as a breeding facility and a hotel must submit two separate applications, one for each type of premises. On the other hand, a separate application is not required for each animal species; e.g. only one application must be submitted for a hotel for dogs and cats.

The application examination fee for a Dogs’ and Cats’ Breeding facility or Hotel is is €50,00.

No fees apply for the examination of applications regarding shelters for dogs and cats or dog pounds.

The issuance of the Certificate of Animal Welfare Assurance Conditions for a Dogs’ and Cats’ Breeding facility or Hotel costs €150,00.

In case of a shelter for dogs and cats or a dog pound, the Certificate of Animal Welfare Assurance Conditions is issued without the payment of any fees, since this type of premises are exempt from the payment of fees.

Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision

Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.
Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.
The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action
After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.

Appeal Information

An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such decision was given.
At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated for. However, such revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.
The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.

The Protection and Welfare of Animals Law of 1994 (46 (I) / 1994)

The Protection and Welfare of Animals (Protection of Dogs and Cats in Breeding Facilities, Hotels, Shelters and Dog Pounds) Regulations 359/2019 (in the “Applications & Documents”)

The Protection and Welfare of Animals (Protection of Dogs and Cats in Breeding Facilities, Hotels, Shelters and Dog Pounds) Regulations 482/2022 (in the “Applications & Documents”)

The holder of the certificate must comply with the provisions of the Protection and Welfare of Animals (Protection of Dogs and Cats in Breeding Facilities, Hotels, Shelters and Dog Pounds) Regulations of 2019 and 2022 (Κ.Δ.Π. 359/2019 & Κ.Δ.Π. 482/2022), as well as the provisions of the Protection and Welfare of Animals Law.

The holder of the certificate must immediately notify in writing the Veterinary Services for any changes in relation to the information and documents submitted with the application.

In case that the application submitted contains false information or in the knowledge of the applicant material facts are concealed, the Veterinary Services may proceed to the rejection of the application, revocation of an issued certificate,  deletion from the relevant registry and take all legal measures.

In case of non-compliance, of the holder of the license, with the instructions of the Veterinary Services, regarding the corrective measures that need to be taken, the Veterinary Services may suspend or revoke the validity of the certificate.