Press release - Protection of dogs and cats: deal on EU rules to stop abuse

Parliament and Council negotiators agreed on new measures to stop abusive practices, curb cruel business practices, and protect the health of cats and dogs.

The draft bill informally agreed on Tuesday by the two institutions sets out the first ever EU standards for the breeding, housing, traceability, import and handling of cats and dogs.

Negotiators agreed dogs and cats kept in the EU, including these in private ownership, will be identifiable with a microchip and will be registered in interoperable national databases. Sellers, breeders and shelters will have four years to prepare for this, while for pet owners who do not sell animals, the measure will be mandatory after 10 years for dogs and after 15 years for cats.

Stopping commercial practices leading to abuses and health risks

Breeding between parents and their offspring, grandparents and grandchildren, as well as between siblings and half-siblings, will be banned according to the deal. MEPs also successfully negotiated a ban on the breeding of dogs or cats to give them exaggerated or excessive traits that lead to significant health risks.

The text also includes a prohibition on these animals – and on mutilated dogs and cats – being used in shows, exhibitions, or competitions. Tying a dog or a cat to an object (tethering), except when necessary for medical treatment, and the use of prong and choke collars without built-in safety mechanisms will also be prohibited.

Dogs and cats from non-EU countries

To close potential loopholes that would allow dogs and cats to enter the EU as non-commercial pets only to be subsequently sold, MEPs managed to extend the rules to cover not only imports for commercial purposes but also non-commercial animal movements.

Dogs and cats imported from third countries for sale will have to be microchipped before their entry into the EU, and then registered in a national database. Pet owners entering the EU would be obliged to pre-register their microchipped animal on a database, at least five working days before arrival, except if they enter from certain countries or already registered in EU countries databases.

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Rapporteur and Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Veronika Vrecionová (ECR, CZ), said: “Today we have taken an important step towards bringing real order to the trade in dogs and cats in the EU. Stronger rules on breeding and traceability will make it harder for abusive and illegal operators to hide. We are pushing back against those who see animals as a means of quick profit, and are making a level playing field for honest breeders. Our message is clear: a pet is a family member, not an object or a toy.”

Next steps

The provisional agreement now needs to be approved by both Parliament and Council before the new rules can enter into force.

Background

Around 44% of EU citizens has a pet and 74% believes their welfare should be better protected. The trade in dogs and cats has grown considerably in recent years and is worth €1.3 billion a year. According to the Commission, around 60% of owners purchase their dogs or cats online. In the absence of animal welfare standards for dogs and cats across EU countries, the Commission proposed the new rules on 7 December 2023.