EU Parliament: New Rules for Pets Adopted
European Parliament stands up for dogs and cats. In a landmark vote, the European Parliament (EP) today adopted significant improvements to the proposed regulation on the protection and traceability of dogs and cats.
Animal welfare organisations VIER PFOTEN and Eurogroup for Animals applaud Members of Parliament for their support of the three key pillars of the proposal: minimum standards for all breeders, improved traceability of dogs and cats, and the introduction of a positive list.
«This vote is a real step forward for animal welfare in the EU,” said Georgia Diamantopoulou, Head of the European Policy Office at VIER PFOTEN. “Every dog and every cat deserves protection, regardless of the size of the breeder.»
Animal Welfare Standards for All Breeders
The European Parliament’s approval of minimum animal welfare requirements for all breeders is a breakthrough for animal protection. Basic standards – such as proper feeding, veterinary care, and protection from abuse – now apply to all breeders, closing the door to unregulated backyard breeding and abusive puppy and kitten mills.
We can finally speak of an attempt to fully regulate the trade in companion animals. For a long time, it seemed as though animals bred in a multimillion-dollar sector and kept under whatever conditions were not worthy of attention. Iwona Mertin, Head of the Companion Animals Programme
A Bold Step Against Illegal Pet Trade
The EP has also taken a bold step against illegal pet trade by supporting the full identification and registration of all kept dogs and cats, not just those placed on the market. This long-overdue measure will make it significantly harder for illegal breeders to operate under the radar, as every animal must now be traceable. "This finally closes the loophole for illegal breeders," commented Diamantopoulou.
Online Sales: Not Quite There Yet
MEPs voted against the integration of online registration systems planned by the European Commission. This would have ensured that only animals demonstrably identified and registered could be offered for sale online.
In a landmark move, the EP voted to ban the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops. This closes an important channel for impulse purchases and irresponsible breeding, which are often associated with poor animal welfare conditions. By removing animals from shops, more transparent and ethical routes to adoption or acquisition are favoured.
Future Protection of Other Pets
Finally, the EP has also recognised the necessary protection for other companion animals, not just dogs and cats, and has called for the swift adoption of the final regulation.
The European Parliament has put into action the future protection of wild animals kept as pets. By incorporating a pathway for a positive list into the proposal for dogs and cats, it aims to ensure that only species deemed suitable can be kept and sold as pets. This marks the beginning of a new era of responsible pet ownership and responds to a longstanding demand. Nick Clark, Head of the Wildlife Programme
VIER PFOTEN and the Eurogroup for Animals are now calling on the EU Council and the European Parliament to strengthen the identification and registration (I&R) provisions during the upcoming trilogue negotiations.
