Translated from the website of the Italian Gekko Association, for more detailed info you can find the link to their blog down below, copy-pastimg to Google Translate or translating the website through browser should work as well:
From January 1st 2026 every possessor of exotic animals and/or wild company animals and not (referred to company animals, as in those animals who are not company animals are "recreational" or "ornamental" animals and similar), they'll be obligated to complete a formation course to continue to be able to keep their animals concordly to regulation.
The courses will vary depending on the type of animal and the finality of the keeping (pet, breeding, etc...).
The formation will be compulsory also for operators of the sector (I guess they mean pet shop owners, private and commercial breeders and the likes) and transporters of animals.
The formation, at cost of the receivers, will aim at increasing the knowledge of ensuring welfare, biosecurity and health of any and all species kept and transported.
Formazione obbligatoria per la detenzione di animali non convenzionali - Italian Gekko Association - IGA
To be honest, I rather like it, the casual "consumer" can do much damage with their compulsory spending spree, and this will deter any new and old fool, who doesn't want to inform themselves of their companions, from perpetrating more damage.
Ignorance and lack of legislations are also the case of the endangerment of many native Chelonid species, people used to go into the countryside, grab the first turtles they came across and keep them in the garden because there was no legislation on catching animals and, after CITES, on keeping them without qualifications.
It will require slightly more money to be able to start keeping animals, but it will be at a good cost I believe, I am most positive about this change.
By the way, their blog mentions that this course will have to be renovated every 5 years.
From January 1st 2026 every possessor of exotic animals and/or wild company animals and not (referred to company animals, as in those animals who are not company animals are "recreational" or "ornamental" animals and similar), they'll be obligated to complete a formation course to continue to be able to keep their animals concordly to regulation.
The courses will vary depending on the type of animal and the finality of the keeping (pet, breeding, etc...).
The formation will be compulsory also for operators of the sector (I guess they mean pet shop owners, private and commercial breeders and the likes) and transporters of animals.
The formation, at cost of the receivers, will aim at increasing the knowledge of ensuring welfare, biosecurity and health of any and all species kept and transported.
Formazione obbligatoria per la detenzione di animali non convenzionali - Italian Gekko Association - IGA
To be honest, I rather like it, the casual "consumer" can do much damage with their compulsory spending spree, and this will deter any new and old fool, who doesn't want to inform themselves of their companions, from perpetrating more damage.
Ignorance and lack of legislations are also the case of the endangerment of many native Chelonid species, people used to go into the countryside, grab the first turtles they came across and keep them in the garden because there was no legislation on catching animals and, after CITES, on keeping them without qualifications.
It will require slightly more money to be able to start keeping animals, but it will be at a good cost I believe, I am most positive about this change.
By the way, their blog mentions that this course will have to be renovated every 5 years.
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