Dutch Supreme Court rules in favour of dromedary keepers — a decisive step for the sector

On 28 May 2026, the Dutch supreme court (Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal) ruled that the Dutch Minister of agriculture had wrongly not designated the dromedary as a permitted species. The minister must redo the assessment in full, because the earlier decision was carelessly prepared and inadequately motivated.
Minister applied domestication criterion too narrowly
The supreme court notes that the Minister has only looked at genetic domestication, while the domestication criterion according to the law and the Andibel judgment consists of four interrelated circumstances.

In addition to genetic selection, the following must also be taken into account:
1. the existence of conventional husbandry and available husbandry knowledge
2. Social acceptance
The Minister has not assessed these administrative circumstances, even though this is mandatory.
Dromedary meets several administrative circumstances
The CBb emphasizes that there are concrete indications that the dromedary may have to be appointed on the basis of administrative reasons.
Like this:
1. the dromedary is no longer found in the wild
2. the species has been kept by humans for centuries
3. extensive husbandry knowledge is available
4. the closely related camel is indicated
According to the CBb, the minister should have taken these factors into account. That did not happen.

Decision annulled – new assessment required
The CBb therefore annuls the Minister’s decision with regard to the dromedary. The minister must take a new decision within 13 weeks, in which all four circumstances of the domestication criterion are assessed in conjunction.
Importance for the sector and holders
The ruling is of great importance to keepers, breeders and organizations within the camelid sector. It confirms that the assessment of animal species must not only be scientific, but also administrative and proportionate.