SUBMISSION FROM THE ELECTRONIC COLLAR MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION Mission: The Electronic Collar Manufacturers Association (ECMA) has been established to promote the safe and responsible use of electronic pet training equipment. Members of ECMA agree to develop and market equipment which meets the safety requirements laid down by ECMA. Only products which meet the ECMA Charter for Animal Welfare will be allowed to carry the "ECMA approved" mark on its packaging. By purchasing ECMA approved products, pet owners can be assured that the products they are buying are designed by pet lovers with pet safety in mind. CHARTER FOR ANIMAL WELFARE 1. OUR COMMITMENTS All members of ECMA commit to meet the requirements laid out in this document for all static correction training products they offer for sale in EU countries. These requirements apply to static correction collars in containment fences, remote trainers and anti-bark applications. ECMA is committed to the safety of companion animals and to the responsible use of members products. In the event that malicious acts against the welfare of companion animals are brought to the attention of ECMA, ECMA and its members reserve the right to prosecute those responsible. 2. OUR STANDARDS 2.1. Mandatory inclusions in manuals All products must include a user manual containing effective operational and training instructions. Manuals must state that static correction training products must only be used with animals which are over 6 months old. Manuals must include advice about avoidance of pressure necrosis. This should include recommendations that the collar is not worn continually, that the collar fit is checked regularly and that animal s neck is checked often. 2.2. Approvals and Product marking All static correction products must: Comply with current relevant EU standards (copies of approval and test certificates to be kept by members and made available upon demand) Comply with current relevant EU radio frequency regulations Carry the CE logo Optionally carry the ECMA Approved Product logo
2.3. Product safety requirements for static correction products The power of static correction products must not exceed either 15mA RMS, or alternatively 100 ma maximum (reference IEC 479-1 and 479-2). The length of the stimulation period must be limited by an automatic safety cut-out. Products must have variable levels of correction power to suit the needs of the animal and the situation. Collar contacts must have safe, rounded points. The distance between collar contact points must not exceed 60mm. OUR ANIMAL WELFARE PHILOSOPHY To conceive and develop static correction products for pet training which respect the well-being of animals. To enhance communication between companion animals and owners. To communicate clearly to the users of our products their responsibility to follow the training guidelines for each product.
Ten things you never knew about electronic pet training aids 1. More and more dogs and cats lives are being saved because they do not stray into main roads or risk being shot for chasing livestock. 2. Fewer dogs and cats need rehoming due to the inability to keep them safe or problem behaviour eg running away, barking incessantly, chasing, dangerous scavenging. 3. Road accidents are being prevented because car drivers are not trying to avoid hitting the out-of-control pet running into the road. 4. Dogs and cats do not have to spend their lives indoors, kennelled or tied up. They can be outside, free in their garden surrounded by a radio boundary fence. 5. Owners report that their pets recognise and welcome the electronic collar knowing it is the signal to go outside or for a walk. 6. Electronic pet training aids make happier homes as the pet and owner develop a better relationship. Owners report peace of mind. 7. In a recent trial, dogs wearing bark collars, and stopped incessant barking, had significantly lower levels of stress hormones than the control group of dogs that barked continuously. 8. The static pulse given by electronic pet training aids is 1,725 times weaker than that of electronic abdominal muscle strengtheners. 9. Electronic pet training aids with a static pulse time-out automatically so no correction can be continual and all have fail-safe programmes to ensure that, in case of malfunction, the product shuts down. 10. Animal trainers and behaviourists agree that if a pet has a behaviour problem, the correctional training needs to be carried out within 2 seconds of an occurrence of that specific behaviour so that the pet associates the behaviour and the training. Electronic training aids work on this guiding principle