Concerns Over Regulation Of Pet Cemeteries

A short news item in the Veterinary Record this week states that the proposals for pet cemeteries to be regulated under pollution prevention and control rules are to be withdrawn, following complaints from operators about the costs of applying for the new permits.

It would appear that under European Law pet cemeteries are classed as landfill sites, even if they only bury or cremate a few animals each year. Obviously landfill sites do require good regulation but it would put a huge financial burden on many of the small pet crematoria scattered around the country if they had to be regulated in the same way as large landfill sites.

Luckily this time the Government has seen sense and DEFRA plans to consult on proposals to allow pet cemeteries to continue under the current system of regulation which is not so expensive for them.

This issue does highlight the way in which increasing legislation and red tape could increase the cost of many pet related services. Unfortunately it is pet owners themselves who usually have to carry the financial burdens of more legislation related to veterinary services.