Executive Summary

Animal welfare legislation in Mexico includes the Federal Animal Health Act (2007), General Wildlife Law (2000), and the Official Mexican Standards at Federal level and general animal welfare legislation at State level. The Federal Animal Health Act (2007) provides a good basis for all other animal welfare legislation by mandating the Five Freedoms be respected for all animals. Similarly, the General Wildlife Law (2000) is clear in providing welfare provisions for wild animals. Nearly all Mexican states have separate animal welfare legislation, meaning that almost all animals in Mexico are provided some level of protection. State animal welfare legislation, particularly in relation to responsible pet ownership should be praised, as should the general anti-cruelty provisions that prohibit such acts as cosmetic mutilation and bestiality.

Animal welfare legislation in Mexico has some limitations. Federal standards, while including some welfare provisions, are aimed at ensuring animal health rather than animal welfare. One example is that standards for space requirements on a species-specific basis are not mandated at the Federal level. State animal welfare legislation is inconsistent, with some states providing more protections for some categories of animals than others. Similarly, while all states prohibit animal fights; there are some exemptions; only two states (Jalisco and Coahuila) prohibit bullfighting, and cockfighting is permitted in all states.

While the Ministry of Health; in conjunction with the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food; is responsible for implementation of the Federal Animal Health Act (2007), and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources is responsible for the implementation of the General Wildlife Law (2000), there is no Government Ministry assigned overall responsibility for animal welfare. At a state level, responsibility for different aspects of animal welfare are assigned to the appropriate department; for example, the Department of Health may be responsible for provisions regarding rabies, while the Department for Education may be responsible for promoting and disseminating humane education.

Given the extensive body of scientific evidence proving that animals are sentient, the Federal Government of Mexico is urged to follow the example of the Federal District and of Michoacán de Ocampo and recognise that all animals for whom there is scientific evidence – at a minimum, all vertebrates, cephalopods and decapods crustaceans – are sentient beings and to enshrine this principle into legislation at a Federal level. Recognising animals as sentient will underpin further animal welfare considerations. The Federal Government of Mexico is strongly encouraged to extend current prohibitions on the use of animals for entertainment purposes. Such a prohibition should cover rodeos, animal races, all animal fights including bullfighting and cockfighting, rides on wild animals and all other forms of entertainment. The Federal Government of Mexico is encouraged to create a national multi-stakeholder committee in order to effectively engage all actors involved in maintaining animals’ well-being to find solutions for welfare concerns. This committee would guide the country’s policies and strategies on animal welfare, in line with international standards. This committee should include representatives of animal welfare organisations. Further legal and policy recommendations are associated with each Animal Protection Index (API) indicator and contained in the relevant sections of this report.