EU legislation for dogs and cats: improvements needed
In December 2023, the European Commission drew up a proposal on the welfare of dogs and cats, intended to introduce long-overdue measures on traceability, breeding practices and imports. However, several key elements that would ensure effective protection for companion animals throughout the European Union are still missing from the proposal.
So far, EU regulations apply only to cats and dogs intended for scientific purposes, commercial transport or disease control, which means that national regulations for pets vary considerably across individual member states.
The new proposal aims to protect the welfare of dogs and cats by establishing uniform regulations across the EU. The proposal also stipulates that pets imported into the EU for the purpose of being placed on the market must have been raised under equivalent animal welfare conditions to those of animals within the Union, meaning that this legislation could have far-reaching implications.
In June, member states added several positive improvements to the proposal.
As the European Parliament is expected to begin work on the proposal shortly, Eurogroup for Animals is putting forward a series of important amendments that would ensure the new regulations have a genuine impact for pets and citizens.
One of the main demands is to extend the scope of the current proposal to cover all companion animals. Cats and dogs are not the only pets — so why should they be the only animal species protected by law?
Identification and Registration
The current proposal aims to create interoperable national databases for animal identification. This means that all cats and dogs placed on the market must be marked with electronic transponders and registered in a national database before they are sold or rehomed.
It would be welcome if the marking and registration requirement were extended to all dog and cat breeders, as small breeders are currently excluded from this obligation. This mandate should also be extended to stray animals, which may later enter the market as well.
Sales and Online Trade
The current proposal seeks to regulate online sales by requiring providers to make information about the identification of dogs and cats available on every online sales platform.
Online platforms on which advertisements for companion animals are placed should have a validation system enabling verification of the animal's registration with the advertiser against the national animal database.
A prohibition on trade by minors (under 16 years of age) should be introduced, requiring explicit parental or guardian consent to purchase, sell or breed a pet. In addition, a ban on purchasing on credit should be introduced to prevent impulse purchases of animals.
Breeding and Extreme Characteristics
The current proposal establishes a minimum age for breeding animals and includes animal welfare provisions for the licensing and registration of breeding establishments. It also provides that animals with excessive characteristics or mutilations should be excluded from shows and competitions.
A mandatory certification system for the health and welfare of breeders of brachycephalic or extremely typed dogs and cats would be desirable. Inbreeding should be prohibited under all circumstances. The advertising of animals with extreme characteristics for sale should be banned entirely.
Housing and Care
The current proposal calls for improved housing through greater freedom of movement, a cage-free environment, and access to both outdoor and indoor areas. It also seeks to establish specific training requirements for animal carers and detailed obligations for operators.
More measures against negative experiences with pets would be welcome, e.g. through a ban on electric currents for sedation without exception provisions. Animal rights must also be consistently enshrined for pets.
The work of the European Parliament on this issue is being closely monitored.
