Junior farm minister Henk Bleker has asked ministry officials to compile a list of animals which are suitable to be kept as pets, he said in a briefing to parliament on Monday.

Once the list has been completed, mammals which are not included on it will not be able to be kept by private individuals. The minister hopes the official list will be included in new animal welfare legislation due to come into effect at the beginning of next year.
Wageningen University is currently researching the pros and cons of keeping different animals as pets, ANP says. The research is looking at animal behaviour, illnesses and general welfare.