New legislation on the welfare of hunting dogs constitutes “an important step towards a clear and functional legal framework regarding the proper operation of private hunting dog exercise areas and the handling of the dogs by their owners”, the environment commissioner said on Thursday.

The amendments, passed by parliament on June 12, strengthen responsible hunting activity and reduce phenomena of abandonment.

The environment commissioner’s office had a say in the final legal framework, which “secures that the exercise areas are solely for the physical exercise of hunting dogs and not for training, as the use of licenced areas is strictly permitted for licenced hunters only, accompanied by microchipped dogs.”

“This framework aspires to prevent phenomena of uncontrolled or abusive use of the spaces, abandonment of hunting dogs, especially those that are not microchipped and/or are underperformers, according to their owners, which is a phenomenon that unfortunately exists,” the commissioner’s office said.