Statement on Dutch ban on breeding Small Griffons and Small Brabants

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/20/2020 - 18:57

The “Royal Club of Small Griffons, Small Brabants, Papillons & Phalènes” of Belgium, wishes to express its concerns regarding the recent cynological developments in The Netherlands. 

We are concerned about the new rules adopted by the Dutch government in relation to the breeding of our Belgian breeds. The requirements of the Dutch law fully destroy the integrity, breed type, identity and existance of our breeds. These decisions seem to be based on dubious advice, not supported by worldwide accepted professional research and assistance.

We are surprised to see that the Dutch FCI member “Raad van Beheer” has decided to no longer supply FCI pedigrees for Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon Belge, Petit Brabançon and 9 other brachycephalic breeds that are fully conform to FCI breed standards. Dedicated Dutch breeders of our breeds are now required to register mixed breedings - which are no longer recognizable as our breeds - to get an FCI pedigree. This decision is unacceptable and was not even a requirement of the Dutch government.

The breed standards 80, 81, 82 are looked after by the country of origin, Belgium. They are in the hands of its Belgian national kennel club, the Royal Society Sint Hubert (KMSH-SRSH) and its Breed Standards Committee. As one of the oldest breed clubs of the country, founded in 1889, we consider our breeds as Belgian Living Heritage. There are no valid reasons to change its breed standards. We firmly reject the idea of registered cross breedings with our breeds Griffon Bruxellois, Griffon Belge and Petit Brabançon.

The Belgian breed club fully supports FCI president Tamás Jakkel and its phd. Niksa Lemo (FCI Scientific Committee), with their chosen direction of a cooperation with the professional brachycephalic research group led by dr. Jane Ladlow and the Kennel Club (UK). We consider the professional research done by the University of Cambridge worldwide as the most reliable guide for the breeding, improvement and preservation of our brachycephalic Belgian breeds.

Out of respect for the dedicated Dutch breeders and many Dutch friends of our breeds, we hope the Dutch authorities will use their wisdom to reconsider the taken decisions.

The committee of “Royal Club of Small Griffons, Small Brabants, Papillons and Phalènes”.