EU Approves New Regulations for Cat and Dog Welfare

The new regulations establish uniform standards across the EU for the treatment, housing, and tracing of cats and dogs to combat illegal trade. These standards, proposed by the European Commission in 2023, have been provisionally agreed upon following negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council, the EU's co-legislative bodies.

In contrast, efforts to update animal welfare standards for transport, which were also proposed in 2023, remain stalled due to numerous amendments in Parliament and difficulties in achieving consensus among member states in the Council.

Danish Agriculture Minister Jacob Jensen hailed the agreement as a landmark move for animal welfare in Europe. Veronika Vrecionová, the Parliament's lead negotiator from the European Conservatives and Reformists group, emphasized that the new rules will make it more difficult for illegal operators to exploit animals for profit. Tilly Metz, the Greens' negotiator, added that this initiative represents a critical step toward addressing the rising illegal trade in pets.

The process leading to this agreement, however, faced significant political hurdles. Last-minute amendments altered the initial committee position prior to the vote. Despite a substantial majority supporting the Parliament’s negotiating stance, some members questioned its practical implications.

Additionally, plans to mandate microchipping and registration for all dogs and cats encountered legal challenges within the Council but were ultimately included in the final agreement with minor adjustments.

Animal welfare advocates have praised the outcome, with Georgia Diamantopoulou from the Four Paws organization describing it as a crucial turning point in the fight against illegal dog and cat trading in the EU.