protected birds discovered in a grocery store

Seizure of three protected birds in a grocery store in Perpignan, legal proceedings underway

On June 25, 2024, an administrative check took place in a grocery store in Perpignan. The police officers from the intervention section, accompanied by the canine brigade and the Municipal policies from Perpignan, discovered three cages containing protected birds, European goldfinches, on the shelves.

The OFB (French Office for Biodiversity) confirmed that these were indeed protected species. Keeping these birds in captivity is prohibited by law. The owner of the grocery store in Perpignan explained that she had purchased the birds on a peer-to-peer resale site. She exhibited them to resell them to potential customers. However, she was unable to provide any purchase documents or certificates proving the provenance of the birds.

The authorities seized the birds and handed them over to theOFB so that they can be released into their natural habitat. Legal proceedings have been opened against the owner of this grocery store in Perpignan. She is now awaiting her summons.

The sale of a live animal of a non-domestic species without issuing an informative document is an infraction. It can result in a fine of 1,500 euros. In addition, failing to respect measures to protect protected species can be punished by three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 euros.