The European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved the EU’s first-ever binding rules for the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, aiming to curb illegal trade and improve animal welfare across member states.
Under the new law, all dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered in national databases linked to a central EU system. The sale of pets in shops will be banned, and breeding between close relatives, such as siblings or parents and offspring, will be prohibited.
The law also targets imports from non-EU countries, requiring all incoming pets to be pre-registered and microchipped. Owners bringing pets into the EU must register them online five days before arrival.
Parliament also approved bans on tethering, and the use of prong and choke collars without safety features.
Rapporteur Veronika Vrecionová called the vote “a clear move against illegal breeding and irresponsible imports.”
With around 44% of EU citizens owning a pet, and an annual pet trade worth €1.3 billion, Parliament now moves to negotiations with the Council to finalise the legislation.
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