The European Parliament has given the green light to the first common EU rules aimed at better protecting those who provide companionship to an increasing number of Europeans: dogs and cats. In a resounding vote that reflects broad consensus on the matter in a Parliament so polarized on almost all other issues, MEPs have approved a series of measures aimed at ending abuses and curbing cruel commercial practices, as well as ensuring the health of European households’ favorite pets (44% of EU citizens own a pet).
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“Our message is clear: a pet is a family member, not an object or a toy,” declared Czech MEP Veronika Vrecionová, rapporteur for the file, after the massive vote —558 votes in favor, compared to only 35 against and 52 abstentions—. This now only needs the formal approval of the Council (the Member States) to enter into force, something that diplomatic sources believe should not be a problem either.
The package of measures primarily affects breeders and traders, but also obliges private pet owners, although the latter will have more room to adapt.
Regarding traceability, the new regulation requires all dogs and cats in the EU to be identified with microchips and registered in interoperable national databases. This is an obligation already existing in Spain with the animal welfare law of 2023.
The new rules also seek to limit or directly prohibit practices that involve abuse and health risks for animals, something especially important with fleeting trends for pets with very specific or exaggerated traits of some breeds.
On the one hand, breeding between animals and their offspring up to the second degree is prohibited, as well as between individuals from the same litter or who share a parent. Similarly, the breeding of dogs or cats that seeks to give them “exaggerated or excessive traits” that could generate “significant risks” to their health is prohibited.
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Likewise, the new measures prohibit the mutilation of dogs and cats for shows, exhibitions, or competitions. These animals also cannot be tied to an object “except when necessary for medical treatment.” Once the rules come into force, pinch collars and choke collars cannot be used unless they incorporate a safety mechanism.
“Finally, we are going to have stricter rules on breeding and traceability that will help us stand up to those who see animals as a way to make quick profits,” welcomed Vrecionová, from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The new rules, she added, will also offer “fair conditions” for “honest” breeders in the EU.
Furthermore, citizens “will be able to verify the breeder at the point of sale and will have clear information about the origin of their pet and its health,” highlighted Slovak liberal MEP Michal Wiezik, while Luxembourgish Green MEP Tilly Metz celebrated that the mandatory microchip requirement also extends to cats: “The microchip is the most efficient tool to ensure traceability, uncover illegal networks, and protect consumers. The fact that this system is now extended throughout the EU and includes cats is a big step, although the transition periods are long,” she stated in a press release.
To prevent imbalances, the new rules also seek to close legal loopholes that exist in the transport and trade of pets with third countries, especially when they enter as companion animals but are then commercialized. To prevent this, dogs and cats imported from outside the EU must also have a microchip before entering European territory. In addition, owners will have a maximum of five working days after the pet’s arrival to register them in a national database, unless the animal has already been previously registered in another EU country.
The measures, originally proposed by the European Commission in December 2023 and which, with Tuesday’s approval in Strasbourg, are almost ready to be implemented —as soon as the Member States give their final endorsement—, are not a whim. Beyond genuine public concern for the welfare of their companion animals —74% of citizens believe their welfare should be better protected, according to a Eurobarometer also from late 2023—, it is about regulating a market that continues to grow: it is a trade already worth around 1.3 billion euros annually. According to the Commission, about 60% of owners acquire their dog or cat online.
