Lawmakers remove prison term and cut fines in Morocco stray animal bill

The House of Representatives’ Production Sectors Committee approved on Tuesday several amendments to provisions of Bill 19.25 on the protection of stray animals and the prevention of related risks, as the bill continues to face criticism over its proposed penalties

The session brought together MPs from the Popular Movement, Socialist Union, and PJD groups, along with the Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed Bouaari.

The committee approved a change to Article 5, which originally banned “any form of care for stray animals, including sheltering, feeding, or treatment.”

The revised text, based on a consensual amendment, now reads that no person may feed, shelter, or treat a stray animal except in accordance with the law and its implementing regulations.

The amendment came in response to proposals by the popular movement party and the Justice and Development parliamentary group, both stressed the need to avoid keeping the provision too vague.

The Popular Movement called for aligning the article with Chapter Three on stray animal care centers, while the Justice and Development Party proposed allowing limited care that prevents domestication, reproduction, or risks to public health, while still permitting emergency or temporary treatment.

The PJD group argued that the provision does not clearly distinguish between permanent and temporary care, and called for a balance between public health concerns and animal welfare by separating harmful practices from temporary humanitarian interventions.

The session also discussed Article 4, which allows stray animals to be reported by any means, in particular through a dedicated online platform, when found in public spaces and when they pose a risk to public health or safety.

The Popular Movement proposed adding multiple reporting channels, including a hotline and local authorities, instead of relying mainly on a single system.

The PJD, meanwhile, called for expanding the reporting scope to include issues related to security, public order, and public tranquillity.

The Minister of Agriculture maintained the current wording, saying the provision already allows reporting through all available means without restricting specific channels, which could otherwise make reports submitted through other means legally questionable.

The discussion also covered Article 36, which sets a penalty of two to six months in prison and a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 MAD, or either of these penalties, for anyone who intentionally kills, abuses, or harms a stray animal in any form.”

The Justice and Development Party said the provision conflicts with Article 13, which permits euthanasia under specific conditions, and called for excluding legally conducted euthanasia from penalties when carried out under the law.

The minister agreed in principle but dropped the proposed phrase related to veterinary supervision.

The committee also approved removing the prison sentence from Article 38, which originally provides “for a prison sentence of one to three months and a fine of 5,000 to 15,000 MAD, or either of the two, for anyone who intentionally puts an animal at risk.”

Parliamentary majority groups proposed scrapping the prison sentence and keeping only fines, while increasing the amounts.

Agriculture Minister Ahmed Bouaari partially accepted the amendment, with the revised text now setting a fine of 5,000 to 20,000 MAD for intentionally endangering an animal.

The committee also approved a change to Article 39, which imposes “a fine ranging from 100,000 to 500,000 MAD on anyone who establishes or manages a stray animal care center without the license.”

The amendment, proposed by the Socialist opposition group, reduces the fine to between 50,000 and 300,000 MAD, to encourage civil and associative initiatives and avoid the closure of shelters over administrative irregularities.

The minister also approved an amendment to Article 42, which originally “imposed a fine of 5,000 to 15,000 MAD on animal owners who fail to declare a newly acquired animal or do not have the animal’s health record.”

The Socialist group proposed reducing the fine to 1,000–5,000 MAD, arguing that penalties should be more proportionate and that warnings and regularization should come before fines.

The committee also approved amendments to Article 44, which imposes a fine of “1,500 to 3,000 MAD on anyone who shelters, feeds, or treats a stray animal in public spaces, including streets, shared residential buildings, or places open to the public.”

The Socialist group proposed reducing the fine to 500–2,000 MAD, arguing that penalizing the feeding or treatment of stray animals undermines animal welfare.