On 23 April, GAIA’s president Michel Vandenbosch and director Ann de Greef handed over 57,025 signatures requesting ‘a lower VAT rate for cat sterilisation’ to Siegfried Bracke (N-VA), the President of the Chamber of Representatives. Two days later, on 25 April 2019, the VAT reduction was approved by the Chamber (125 votes for, 2 against and 3 abstentions).
It has been compulsory throughout Belgium to sterilise all domestic cats since 1 April 2018. GAIA has campaigned for this measure for a long time. To inform all citizens of compulsory sterilisation, GAIA launched a campaign in July 2018 entitled ‘Too many cats kills cats’. The VAT reduction is part of this campaign and is intended to encourage more people to comply with their civic responsibilities.
The VAT reduction will not enter into effect immediately but must first be approved at European level.
