The European Parliament has approved this Tuesday the first EU rules to protect dogs and cats against abuses and cruel commercial practices. The text was passed with 558 votes in favor, 35 against, and 52 abstentions.
The new regulation, already agreed with the Council, establishes the obligation to identify by microchip all dogs and cats in the European Union —including those belonging to private individuals— and register them in interoperable national databases.
Sellers, breeders, and shelters will have four years from the date of entry into force to adapt. In the case of owners who do not sell animals, the obligation will be progressive: ten years for dogs and fifteen for cats.
Abusive breeding practices prohibited
The regulation incorporates direct restrictions on animal breeding to avoid risks to their health. Reproduction between animals and their offspring up to the second degree is prohibited, as well as between specimens of the same litter or with a common parent.
The breeding of dogs and cats with exaggerated or extreme physical traits that may cause health problems is also banned.
Furthermore, practices such as mutilation for exhibition or competition purposes, tying up animals except for medical reasons and the use of prong or choke collars without safety systems are prohibited.
Import controls and online sales
The regulation also acts on legal loopholes in the entry of animals into the EU. From now on, the rules will apply both to commercial imports and to non-commercial movements that end in sale.
Dogs and cats from third countries must be microchipped before entering the EU and subsequently registered in a national database. This registration must be carried out at least five working days before arrival, unless the animal is already registered in an EU country.
A market of 1.3 billion under the magnifying glass
The initiative responds to a growing market. 44% of Europeans have a pet and 74% believe their well-being should be better protected.
The trade in dogs and cats generates around 1.3 billion euros per year, and around 60% of owners acquire their animals online, according to European Commission data.
"A pet is not an object"
The rapporteur for the file, Veronika Vrecionová (ECR, Czechia), has underlined that the rule represents “an important step towards regulating the trade of dogs and cats in the European Union”.
“A pet is a member of the family, not an object or a toy,” he stated, highlighting that the new regulation will allow for reinforced traceability and combat those seeking “quick profits” at the expense of animals.
Next step, the Council
After the approval of the European Parliament, the legislation must be formally adopted by the Council before it enters into force.
The European Commission presented this proposal on December 7, 2023, due to the absence of common animal welfare rules for dogs and cats in all Member States.