A note from the Government on the meeting of the Council of Ministers explains that the entities that will ensure the registration and processing of data in the National Register of Animals Used in Circuses (CNAUC) have been designated.

"This diploma aims to respond to the reinforcement of the protection of animals used in circuses, namely as regards their captivity, as well as the determination on the end of the use of wild animals in circuses", says the executive's note.

The two entities, explained the government source to Lusa, will ensure the registration and processing of data registered with the CNAUC, the publicity of the data on the National Portal of Animals Used in Circuses (PNAUC), the seizures of undeclared animals and voluntary relocation of animals in reception centres.

The decree-law completes the diploma approved by the Assembly of the Republic on the end of the use of circus animals in October 2018.

According to the Government source, the ICNF is responsible for ensuring the registration of specimens of species prohibited from use in circuses (transmitting them to the DGAV), coordinating the programme for the voluntary delivery of animals, the financing being provided by the Environmental Fund, and eventually apprehend undeclared animals found in those spaces.

DGAV will manage CNAUC and PNAUC. The two entities have the competence to apprehend animals, but they also have means from local authorities, namely municipal veterinarians or the municipal police, GNR and PSP.

At the end of October 2018, the Assembly of the Republic passed in a global final vote the diploma that puts an end to the use of animals in the circus, such as monkeys, lions, elephants, tigers, bears, seals, crocodiles, penguins, hippos, rhinos, snakes or ostriches.

The diploma, promulgated by the President of the Republic in February last year, stated that the animals must be registered in a national register, they can only be used in the circus during a transitional period of six years, after which their use is prohibited and to be punished with infractions.

The diploma already defined that it would be up to the Government to create a programme for voluntary delivery of animals used in circuses, as well as a line of financial incentives for the retraining and professional qualification of workers of circus companies (tamers or keepers) who voluntarily deliver the animals they use.

And that it would be up to the Government to also define which entity is responsible for guaranteeing the registration and processing of data at the CNAUC, for making the apprehensions of animals kept illegally in the enclosures and for relocating the animals voluntarily delivered by their owners or keepers in reception centres.