Lombardy bill seeks to regulate pet grooming amid criticism

The Regional Council of Lombardy, the legislative assembly of the northern Italian region, introduced a bill aimed at regulating the pet grooming industry in a bid to ensure high standards of pet protection.

The new law would require pet groomers to complete at least 300 hours of training covering both theory and practice. Groomers should also take refresher courses every 3 years, according to the bill seen by GlobalPETS.

Groomers who want to work, change premises or relocate must file a Certified Notification of Commencement of Activity (SCIA) and submit a report to the local municipality for approval.

They would also be required to disclose professional qualifications to clients and the risks associated with grooming. The bill further mandates that grooming facilities, including mobile vans, meet specific sanitary and safety standards set by health authorities.

The bill has set the penalty for each fault between €500 ($558) and €6,000 ($6,699), depending on the degree of the offense.

Concerns from the competition authority

The AGCM, the competition authority in Italy, has considered the proposed regulations “unjustified.”

Chairman Roberto Rustichelli stated that the 300-hour training requirement “seems disproportionate” for pet grooming. “Such a requirement ends up constituting an unjustified barrier to market entry, requiring an excessive and disproportionate investment in terms of the time and cost,” he says.

According to the AGCM, the regulation would also shift grooming from a “neighborhood economic activity” to a “regulated profession.”

It also believes existing safety rules, if enforced properly, are enough to protect consumers, animals and industry operators.