2023-03-232022/23:MJU9 · p.21MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Zoo operations
Oversight and regulations for zoos
What's at stake: The decision concerns whether current oversight by county administrative boards, requirements for a vet and a zoologist, and the approval process are enough to ensure the welfare of animals in zoos, or whether individual shortcomings that have been flagged warrant a broader review. It affects animals kept in zoos and public confidence that the rules are being followed.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the existing regulatory framework and oversight of zoos is sufficient, or whether a nationwide review of zoos should be carried out in light of reports of shortcomings.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee finds that there is a well-developed framework with established routines, including requirements for a vet and a zoologist plus approval and inspection by the county administrative board, and that nothing has emerged to justify changing the framework or reviewing the country's zoos; the motions are rejected.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 33 (SD)
SD wants a nationwide review of Swedish zoos, citing reports of shortcomings in routines, poor animal husbandry, and undersized enclosures, even though zoos also play an important educational and species-conservation role.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 33 by SD.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 94/0/0/13 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Abstain 0/0/15/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | departs from the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| SD | No | No 0/62/0/11 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2022/23:519 by Markus Wiechel (SD) demand 2, 2022/23:997 by Martin Kinnunen et al. (SD) demand 19 and 2022/23:1260 by Rebecka Le Moine et al. (MP) demand 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:519 av Markus Wiechel (SD) yrkande 2, 2022/23:997 av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD) yrkande 19 och 2022/23:1260 av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: Parliament rejected approximately 130 proposals in motions submitted during the general motion period of 2022. The proposals concerned, for example, Sweden working to improve animal welfare internationally, particularly regarding trade in wild animals, which increases the risk of disease transmission to humans. Parliament considers that extensive international work is already underway on this matter. Other proposals concerned, for example, animal transport, dog breeding and slaughter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to work for international regulation of wild animal trade and for independent international inspection of animal markets. (SD) — Reservation 33
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The party programme requires that all animal husbandry proceeds from animals being sentient creatures that shall be given a good life and opportunity for natural behaviour.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that all animal husbandry proceeds from animals being sentient creatures that shall be given a good life and opportunity for natural behaviour. Reports on undersized enclosures and deficient procedures concern precisely this, so a nationwide review of zoos aligns with the plan's responsibility for animals' living conditions. The plan does not however specifically address zoos.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att all djurhållning utgår från att djur är kännande varelser som ska ges ett gott liv och möjlighet till naturligt beteende. Rapporter om underdimensionerade hägn och bristande rutiner rör precis detta, varför en rikstäckande översyn av djurparkerna ligger i linje med planens ansvar för djurs livsvillkor. Planen behandlar däremot inte djurparker särskilt.
- animals are sentient beingsdecisive»All djurhållning ska därför utgå från att djur är kännande varelser« (party programme ↗)“All animal husbandry shall therefore proceed from animals being sentient creatures”
- right to natural behaviour»gott liv och möjlighet till ett naturligt beteende« (party programme ↗)“good life and opportunity for natural behaviour”
- responsibility for animals' living conditions»Människan har påtagit sig ett särskilt ansvar för djurs livsvillkor och« (party programme ↗)“Humanity has taken on particular responsibility for animals' living conditions and”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
Ethical animal husbandry is a fundamental principle in the programme, and the consumer perspective shall take precedence over producer interest.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
Ethical animal husbandry is a fundamental principle in the programme, and the consumer perspective shall take precedence over producer interest. Reports of inadequate enclosures and poor procedures are thus a reason that the plan's principles take seriously, which argues for the counter-proposal's requirement for a nationwide review. Animal parks are not addressed in the documents, so the position is derived from the nearest-lying principle.
Original (Swedish)
Etisk djurhållning är en grundprincip i programmet, och konsumentperspektivet ska gå före producentintresset. Rapporter om undermåliga hägn och bristande rutiner är därmed ett skäl som planens principer tar på allvar, vilket talar för motförslagets krav på en rikstäckande översyn. Djurparker behandlas inte i dokumenten, så ställningstagandet är härlett ur den närmast liggande principen.
- ethical animal husbandrydecisive»och etisk djurhållning är grundprinciper.« (party programme ↗)“and ethical animal husbandry are fundamental principles.”
- consumer before producer interest»producentintresset, ska vara utgångspunkten för en politik där säkra livsmedel, miljöhänsyn« (party programme ↗)“producer interest, shall be the starting point for a policy where safe food, environmental consideration”
- species conservation task»Samtidigt accelererar artdöden och den biologiska mångfalden hotas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, species extinction is accelerating and biological diversity is threatened.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme states that the ambitions in animal protection legislation are not fully reflected in reality, that compliance with the law must be improved and that inspections shall become better, and that animals shall have the opportunity for natural behaviour.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme states that the ambitions in animal protection legislation are not fully reflected in reality, that compliance with the law must be improved and that inspections shall become better, and that animals shall have the opportunity for natural behaviour. The election manifesto requires real animal protection where animals live free from suffering and stress. Reports of undersized enclosures and inadequate procedures are precisely the gap between law and reality the plan wants to close, which is why a nationwide review is supported.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet konstaterar att ambitionerna i djurskyddslagstiftningen inte speglas fullt ut i verkligheten, att lagens efterlevnad måste förbättras och att kontrollerna ska bli bättre, och att djuren ska ha möjlighet till naturligt beteende. Valmanifestet kräver ett verkligt djurskydd där djur lever fritt från lidande och stress. Rapporter om underdimensionerade hägn och bristande rutiner är precis den lucka mellan lag och verklighet planen vill täppa till, varför en rikstäckande översyn stöds.
- compliance with law must be improveddecisive»Ambitionerna i djurskyddslagstiftningen speglas« (party programme ↗)“The ambitions in animal protection legislation are”
- right to natural behaviour»djurhållningen anpassas till det. Kontrollerna ska« (party programme ↗)“animal husbandry adapted to it. Inspections shall”
- animals free from suffering»Djur ska leva sina liv fritt från lidande och stress, och så nära sina naturliga beteenden som möjligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Animals shall live their lives free from suffering and stress, and as close to their natural behaviours as possible.”
- strengthened animal protection supervision»förbättras. Vi vill införa en djuretisk ombudsman« (party programme ↗)“be improved. We want to introduce an animal ethics ombudsman”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan says nothing about animal parks or oversight of them.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan says nothing about animal parks or oversight of them. Nearest lying principle is the party programme's requirement for clear responsibility taking and respect for animals and nature and that biological diversity must be protected, which speaks for that shortcomings in animal keeping should be examined. The conclusion therefore rests on general principles and is uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen säger ingenting om djurparker eller tillsynen av dem. Närmast liggande princip är partiprogrammets krav på ett tydligt ansvarstagande och respekt för djur och natur samt att biologisk mångfald måste skyddas, vilket talar för att brister i djurhållning bör granskas. Slutsatsen vilar därför på allmänna principer och är osäker.
- responsibility for animalsdecisive»Människan har ett särskilt ansvar att agera så att andra levande varelser också kan fortleva.« (party programme ↗)“Humanity has a special responsibility to act so that other living creatures also can continue.”
- protect biological diversity»Att skydda den biologiska mångfalden är nödvändigt för att ekosystemen ska kunna fortleva.« (party programme ↗)“Protecting biological diversity is necessary for ecosystems to continue.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme establishes that all animal husbandry must guarantee animals a dignified life and that oversight of compliance with laws and regulations must be sharpened.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that all animal husbandry must guarantee animals a dignified life and that oversight of compliance with laws and regulations must be sharpened. Reports of substandard enclosures and lack of procedures in zoos are exactly such shortcomings an such oversight should catch, why a nationwide review lies in line with the plan. The plan simultaneously recognizes the need for species preservation, which the counter-proposal also does.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att all djurhållning måste garantera djuren ett värdigt liv och att kontrollen av att lagar och regler efterlevs måste skärpas. Rapporter om undermåliga hägn och bristande rutiner i djurparker är precis det slags brister en sådan kontroll ska fånga, varför en rikstäckande översyn ligger i linje med planen. Planen erkänner samtidigt behovet av artbevarande, vilket motförslaget också gör.
- dignified animal husbandrydecisive»djurhållning måste garantera djuren ett värdigt liv och en anständig död.« (party programme ↗)“animal husbandry must guarantee animals a dignified life and a decent death.”
- animal treatment as civilizational measure»Hur vi hanterar våra djur är ett mått på vår civilisation och en förutsättning för en god folkhälsa.« (party programme ↗)“How we treat our animals is a measure of our civilization and a precondition for good public health.”
- threatened species must be protected»Allt fler arter hotas av utrotning.« (party programme ↗)“Increasingly more species are threatened with extinction.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan imposes on the person a responsibility to take good care of the animals in their care and to ensure that they live as natural a life as possible, without unnecessary suffering.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan imposes on the person a responsibility to take good care of the animals in their care and to ensure that they live as natural a life as possible, without unnecessary suffering. Reports of undersized enclosures and poor animal husbandry affect precisely this commitment, which is why a nationwide review of animal parks has support in the plan. The plan does not mention animal parks in particular.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ålägger människan ett ansvar att ta väl hand om de djur hon har i sin vård och att sörja för att de får leva ett så naturligt liv som möjligt, utan onödigt lidande. Rapporter om underdimensionerade hägn och bristande djurhållning berör precis detta åtagande, varför en rikstäckande översyn av djurparkerna har stöd i planen. Planen nämner inte djurparker särskilt.
- animals shall live naturallydecisive»dessa djur får leva ett så naturligt liv som möjligt« (party programme ↗)“these animals live as natural a life as possible”
- responsibility for living creatures»Människan har ett ansvar att värna andra levande« (party programme ↗)“The person has a responsibility to cherish other living”
- no unnecessary suffering»Onödigt lidande ska inte förekomma« (party programme ↗)“Unnecessary suffering shall not occur”
- consideration of animals' needs»De ska alltid behandlas med hänsyn till sitt behov av ett« (party programme ↗)“They shall always be treated with consideration for their need for a”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan does not address zoos. The closest principle is that animal husbandry is valued and that companies' regulatory burden and administrative…
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan does not address zoos. The closest principle is that animal husbandry is valued and that companies' regulatory burden and administrative costs shall be reduced, while politics must at the same time prioritize its core tasks. Based on this, the plan does not support a nationwide review beyond the existing regulatory framework.
Original (Swedish)
Planen behandlar inte djurparker. Närmast liggande princip är att djurhållning värnas och att företagens regelbörda och administrativa kostnader ska minska, medan politiken samtidigt måste prioritera sina kärnuppgifter. Utifrån detta ger planen inte stöd åt en rikstäckande översyn utöver det befintliga regelverket.
- animal husbandry valueddecisive»Jakt och djurhållning är för många människor en viktig del av livet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Hunting and animal husbandry are for many people an important part of life”
- reduced regulatory red tape»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove one-third of companies' administrative costs and one-third of regulatory red tape”
- politics must prioritize»Politiken har en viktig uppgift att prioritera och välja bort,« (party programme ↗)“Politics has an important task to prioritize and leave things out,”
The plan wants strong animal protection where greater consideration is given to animals' natural behavior and explicitly points out the need for expanded resources for monitoring animal husbandry.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants strong animal protection where greater consideration is given to animals' natural behavior and explicitly points out the need for expanded resources for monitoring animal husbandry. A nationwide review of zoos with reported deficiencies in procedures and undersized enclosures is precisely such a monitoring effort. The plan sees care for animals as a measure of society's development.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill ha ett stärkt djurskydd där större hänsyn tas till djurens naturliga beteende och pekar uttryckligen ut behovet av utökade resurser för kontroller av djurhållning. En rikstäckande översyn av djurparker med rapporterade brister i rutiner och underdimensionerade hägn är just en sådan kontrollinsats. Planen ser omsorgen om djuren som ett mått på samhällets utveckling.
- animals' natural behaviordecisive»Sverigedemokraterna vill ha ett stärkt djurskydd där större hänsyn tas till djurens naturliga beteende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Swedish Democrats want strong animal protection where greater consideration is given to animals' natural behavior.”
- expanded animal welfare inspections»Sverigedemokraterna vill satsa större resurser på forskning om mer skonsamma bedövningsmetoder av grisar samt utökade resurser för kontroller på gårdar och slakterier.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Swedish Democrats want to invest more resources in research on gentler stunning methods for pigs and expanded resources for inspections on farms and slaughterhouses.”
- strengthened legal animal protection»Stärka djurs rättsliga skydd och status« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen animals' legal protection and status”
- care for animals»Vi ser omsorgen om djuren som ett mått på hur utvecklat ett samhälle är« (party programme ↗)“We see care for animals as a measure of how developed a society is”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:MJU9)
- Committee report full text (HA01MJU9)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1003 — Sverigevänlig konsumentpolitik av Mikael Eskilandersson m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1132 — Avveckling av svensk minknäring av Richard Jomshof (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1133 — Förbud mot halal- och koscherslakt av Richard Jomshof (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1248 — Djurskydd av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1252 — Inkludering av de vilda djuren i djurskyddslagen av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1260 — Förbud mot hållande av elefanter, stora kattdjur och delfiner på djurparker av Rebecka Le Moine m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:1293 — Minkarnas rätt till ett gott liv av Sanna Backeskog m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:1418 — Avlivning av djur enligt djurskyddslagen (2018:1192) av Michael Rubbestad (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1646 — Ny djurskötarutbildning av Kerstin Lundgren (C)
- Motion 2022/23:1785 — Utfasning av djurförsök av Ulrika Heindorff (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1828 — Brist på veterinärer av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2072 — Utgiftsområde 23 Areella näringar, landsbygd och livsmedel av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2143 — Videoövervakning vid slakt och straffansvar för slakteriägare av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2149 — Obedövad slakt av Markus Wiechel och Charlotte Quensel (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2151 — Förbud av försäljning av foie gras av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:2152 — Förbud mot koldioxidbedövning vid slakt av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:218 — Sekretess inom djurskydd av Mikael Larsson (C)
- Motion 2022/23:487 — Utredning av hundaveln i Sverige av Anna-Belle Strömberg och Peter Hedberg (båda S)
- Motion 2022/23:503 — Skärpta krav på kycklingindustrin av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:518 — Djurbalk och djurskyddsmyndighet av Markus Wiechel (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament