The European Parliament has approved the EU’s first-ever standards for the protection of cats and dogs, introducing mandatory microchipping, a ban on harmful breeding practices, and new restrictions on imports from outside the bloc.
MEPs backed the regulation by 558 votes in favour, 35 against, and 52 abstentions on Tuesday. The legislation, already agreed with the Council, still requires formal Council adoption before it can enter into force.
The new rules cover the breeding, housing, traceability, import and handling of cats and dogs across the EU, including animals in private ownership.
Microchipping and registration
All dogs and cats kept in the EU will be required to carry a microchip and be registered in interoperable national databases. Sellers, breeders and shelters will have four years from the legislation’s entry into force to comply. For private owners who do not sell animals, the obligation kicks in after ten years for dogs and after 15 years for cats.
Breeding bans
Breeding between parents and offspring, grandparents and grandchildren, and between siblings and half-siblings will be prohibited. Breeding dogs or cats to give them exaggerated physical traits that lead to significant health risks will also be banned.
The new measures prohibit the mutilation of dogs and cats for shows, exhibitions or competitions. Tethering a dog or cat to an object will also be banned except when required for medical treatment, as will the use of prong and choke collars without built-in safety mechanisms.
Imports
To close loopholes allowing animals to enter the EU as non-commercial pets and then be sold, the regulation covers both commercial imports and non-commercial animal movements. Dogs and cats imported for sale must be microchipped before entering the EU and registered in a national database. Pet owners entering the EU will be required to pre-register their microchipped animal in a database at least five working days before arrival, unless the animal is already registered in an EU member state’s database.
Rapporteur Veronika Vrecionová, who chairs the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, said the regulation sends a clear message. “A pet is a family member, not an object or a toy,” she said. “We finally have stronger rules on breeding and traceability that will help us push back against those who see animals as a means of making a quick profit.”
Background
Around 44% of EU citizens own a pet, and 74% believe animal welfare should be better protected, according to Eurobarometer data. The trade in dogs and cats has grown significantly in recent years and is worth €1.3 billion a year. Around 60% of owners purchase their pets online, according to the European Commission, which proposed the new rules in December 2023.
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