Wild animals in circuses ban
Law & Regulation
In Effect
November 30, 2021
Summary
On 30 November 2021, Law No. 2021-1539 (“loi visant à lutter contre la maltraitance animale et à conforter le lien entre les animaux et les hommes”) was promulgated, having been definitively adopted by the French Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) on 18 November 2021. Among its provisions, the law establishes a phased national ban on the commercial exploitation of wild (non-domestic) species in travelling circuses (établissements itinérants): a ban on the acquisition of wild animals for presentation in itinerant establishments, and a ban on their reproduction (breeding) in such establishments, both entering into force on 30 November 2023; and a ban on the presence and use of wild animals in travelling circuses entering into force on 1 December 2028. Named wild species referenced in official communications include lions, tigers, other big cats, bears, wolves, primates, hippopotamuses, sea lions, and elephants. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition estimates that approximately 600 wild animals, including nearly 400 big cats, are held by French travelling circuses at the time of the law’s adoption. The acquisition and reproduction bans have been in effect since 30 November 2023; a 2024 Senate question confirms these provisions are operative and that administrative sanctions can be applied for violations. The full performance ban scheduled for 1 December 2028 has been reaffirmed in government communications and parliamentary questions with no reported suspension or reversal as of mid-2026. The law is described in official communications as intended to end “the commercial exploitation of wild species” in itinerant establishments. The same law contains a separate immediate ban on mink fur farming (documented in a separate Development record) and a cetacean dolphinarium phase-out provision. AAP (Animal Advocacy and Protection), One Voice, and other NGOs campaigned for the national ban and reported on the law’s adoption.
Background Context
Prior to 2021, France permitted the use of wild non-domestic animals in travelling circuses subject to general animal protection regulations, with no national prohibition. On 29 September 2020, Minister for the Ecological Transition Barbara Pompili announced a forthcoming ban on shows involving wild animals in travelling circuses, including a prohibition on breeding these animals. Species referenced in the 2020 announcement as incompatible with frequent travel included big cats, bears, wolves, primates, hippopotamuses, sea lions, and elephants. The parliamentary bill introduced following the 2020 commitment underwent debate in 2020–2021, culminating in adoption of Law No. 2021-1539. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition has subsequently developed support and transition guidance for the circus sector, including guidance to municipalities clarifying that before 1 December 2028 they are not legally entitled to refuse a circus solely on the basis that it uses wild animals, as the full performance ban is not yet in force. A 2025 parliamentary question indicates that detailed sanctioning provisions for the reproduction ban were still being developed, without affecting the core prohibition.
System Impact
Direction
Reduces Exploitation
Type
Alters Legal Basis
Significance
High
Law No. 2021-1539 was definitively adopted by the French Parliament on 18 November 2021 and promulgated on 30 November 2021. The ban on acquisition and reproduction of wild animals in itinerant establishments entered into force on 30 November 2023 and is confirmed as operative in a 2024 Senate question, which also documents that administrative sanctions can be applied for violations. The full ban on the presence and use of wild animals in travelling circuses is scheduled to take effect on 1 December 2028. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition has initiated support measures for the circus sector and coordinates relocation planning for the approximately 600 wild animals currently held by travelling circuses. Enforcement responsibility is assigned to prefects and departmental veterinary services (DDPP). No court decision suspending or annulling the circus provisions is documented in sources consulted as of mid-2026. The law’s mink fur farming ban and dolphinarium cetacean phase-out are documented in separate records.
Anticipated Effects
If the 1 December 2028 ban on the presence and use of wild animals in itinerant establishments is implemented as written, all wild animals currently held by French travelling circuses will be required to be relocated out of those establishments by that date, ending wild-animal circus performances in France.
If the acquisition and reproduction bans are consistently enforced from 30 November 2023 onward, the existing population of wild animals in French travelling circuses will not be replaced, producing a progressive reduction over time as individual animals age and die.
Whether the elimination of wild-animal circus performances in France has redirected demand to foreign circus tours or other entertainment formats, or has reduced overall wild-animal entertainment use, is not established in available sources.
Significance Rationale
Assigned Reduces Exploitation (impact direction) because the law eliminates the legal basis for wild animals in French travelling circuses across a phased timeline: no new wild animals may be acquired or bred for itinerant establishments since 30 November 2023, and from 1 December 2028 no wild animals may be present or used in travelling circus performances in France. The existing population of approximately 600 wild animals in French travelling circuses will be required to be removed from itinerant establishments by the 2028 date.
Assigned Alters Legal Basis (impact type) because the primary mechanism is a categorical statutory prohibition — first on acquisition and breeding, then on presence and use — of wild animals in itinerant establishments, removing the legal basis for these exploitation activities in France.
Assigned High significance because the provision eliminates an entire sector within France: the use of wild animals in travelling circus performances is categorically prohibited rather than conditioned. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition’s estimate of approximately 600 animals — including nearly 400 big cats — documents the direct scale of the affected population.
The scale change is structural within France: the acquisition and reproduction ban is in force and the full performance ban is scheduled for 1 December 2028, with no reported suspension or reversal as of 2026.
Within The System
Key Actors
The National Assembly and Senate adopted Law No. 2021-1539 on 18 November 2021; President of the Republic promulgated it on 30 November 2021. Ministry for the Ecological Transition (Minister Barbara Pompili) announced the circus ban in September 2020 and coordinates the circus sector transition. Prefects and DDPP are responsible for enforcement. AAP, One Voice, and other animal protection NGOs campaigned for the national circus ban and reported on the law’s adoption. Travelling circuses holding the approximately 600 wild animals referenced in Ministry communications are the directly affected industry actors.
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