Agriculture Committee votes on first EU rules on welfare of dogs and cats

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

• EU dog and cat trade is worth €1.3 billion annually
• Minimum rules for those who place dogs and cats on the market, with exceptions for individual owners
• Mandatory microchipping and registration by breeders, sellers and shelters
• Ban on the breeding and exhibitions of dogs and cats with excessive conformational traits

On Tuesday, the Agriculture Committee adopted its position on EU standards for the breeding, housing, and handling of cats and dogs.

The first EU rules for the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats were adopted with 35 votes to 2 and 9 abstentions.

Who must comply

MEPs propose the new rules would cover those who are responsible for breeding or selling dogs and cats in establishments and shelters; and those placing dogs and cats into foster homes. They would however not apply to private dog and cat owners.

Microchipping of dogs and cats in the EU

The rules would mean that all dogs and cats held by breeders, sellers and shelters, or offered for sale or donation online, must be individually identifiable with a microchip. Microchipped dogs and cats should be registered in interoperable national databases. MEPs say identification numbers of microchips, along with information about the corresponding national database, should be stored in a single index database operated by the Commission.

Dogs and cats from third countries

To close potential loopholes that would let dogs and cats enter the EU as non-commercial pets but which are then later sold in the EU, MEPs want to extend the rules to cover not only imports for commercial purposes but also non-commercial movements.

Dogs and cats imported from third countries for sale would have to be microchipped before their entry into the EU, and then registered in a national database within two working days after their entry. Pet owners entering the EU would be obliged to pre-register their microchipped animal on an online database, at least five working days before arrival.

Breeding and welfare of dogs and cats

Breeding between parents and offspring, grandparents and grandchildren, as well as between siblings and half-siblings, must be prohibited. Puppies and kittens may not be separated from their mothers until they are at least eight weeks old unless there is a specific veterinary justification. To prevent exploitation, the regulation caps the number of litters per female and introduces mandatory rest periods between pregnancies.

MEPs want a ban on the breeding of dogs or cats that have excessive conformational traits leading to a high risk of detrimental effects on their welfare, as well as a prohibition on these animals – together with mutilated dogs and cats – being used in shows, exhibitions, or competitions.

Quote

After the vote, rapporteur and Chair of the AGRI Committee, Veronika Vrecionová (ECR, CZ), said: “This proposal is a clear move against illegal breeding and the irresponsible importation of animals from outside the EU. At the same time, it fully respects ordinary owners and responsible breeders who should not be unduly burdened by regulations.”

Next steps

The report is now tabled for a vote in Parliament’s plenary. If adopted, talks with EU government ministers can start.

Background

As around 44% of households in the EU have a pet animal, trade in dogs and cats has grown considerably in recent years, with an annual value of EUR 1.3 billion, according to the Commission. The online market, including illegal trade, accounts for 60% of all dog and cat sales in the EU. In the absence of unified minimum animal welfare standards for dogs and cats across the member states, the Commission proposed these new rules on 7 December 2023.