Source: European Parliament
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91[1], the use of a leghold trap, defined as a device designed to restrain or capture an animal by means of jaws which close tightly upon one or more of the animal’s limbs, thereby preventing withdrawal of the limb or limbs from the traps, is prohibited in the EU.
Additionally, Annex VI to Council Directive 92/43/EEC[2] lists the means of capture and killing prohibited under Article 15 of the directive, which include traps which are non-selective according to their principle or their conditions of use.
If a trap is designed to kill only certain animal species, it can be considered as selective according to its principle of use. However, its conditions of use must ensure selectivity, i.e. it must be set in a manner which does not allow non-target species to be trapped.
The Commission has sent a letter to the Permanent Representations of the Member States to the EU on 14 April 2025 to remind them of their obligation to implement and enforce these legal requirements.
The Commission will also encourage Member States to take measures to limit the possibility of purchasing such traps, for example through controls in specialised shops, and to empower forest guards to confiscate and destroy any illegal traps.
This is without prejudice to any infringement action to be taken by the Commission in case of non-compliance with the regulation and to remedies in national law, including bringing the matter to the competent national authorities and/or before national courts, where appropriate.
- [1] Council Regulation (EEC) No 3254/91 of 4 November 1991 prohibiting the use of leghold traps in the Community and the introduction into the Community of pelts and manufactured goods of certain wild animal species originating in countries which catch them by means of leghold traps or trapping methods which do not meet international humane trapping standards, OJ L 308, 9.11.1991, p. 1.
- [2] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.