“EU Takes Historic Step on Animal Welfare: Council Endorses First-Ever EU-Wide Rules for Dogs and Cats”
The European Pet Organization (EPO) as the voice of the pet sector at European level welcomes the Council’s endorsement, announced today, of the provisional agreement establishing the first EU-wide standards for the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats. This milestone marks a decisive step toward stronger consumer protection, enhanced animal welfare, and the effective fight against illegal pet trade across Europe.
Under the new legislation, minimum welfare requirements will apply to breeders, shelters, and selling establishments. Under this category, registered pet stores are formally recognised as legitimate and regulated actors within the companion animal supply chain — a development long championed by EPO throughout the negotiation process.
A core element of the agreement is enhanced EU-wide traceability. All dogs and cats sold or transferred — including those offered in pet stores — must be microchipped and recorded in interoperable national databases. This will significantly reduce opportunities for illegal trade and ensure more transparent movement of companion animals across the EU.
The legislation introduces strict, science-based breeding provisions, including minimum and maximum breeding ages, a ban on inbreeding, a ban on hybrid breeding, the exclusion of extreme conformational traits, mandatory veterinary supervision and obligatory responsible ownership information provided at the point of sale.
In addition, imports from outside the EU will be required to meet equivalent welfare and traceability standards, supported by a new EU pet travellers’ database to ensure consistent controls at the Union’s external borders.
Importantly, the agreement contains no reference to an EU-wide positive list of pet species. The scope remains strictly limited to dogs and cats, in full alignment with the Commission’s original proposal — another key issue on which EPO has actively advocated.
“This represents a major EU milestone in combating illegal puppy trade, improving welfare outcomes for dogs and cats, and harmonising rules for all actors involved in their care, breeding, and sale, while acknowledging the important role of pet store in responsible pet ownership and transfer”, said EPO President Svein A. Fosså
With the Council’s endorsement, the proposal now moves toward formal adoption, marking a historic step forward for animal welfare and for a responsible, transparent companion animal trade across Europe.
EPO now looks forward to the final adoption of the text, enabling a full review of its content and implications for its members. It also stands ready to contribute the sector’s expertise and experience as EU authorities develop the implementing and delegated acts — the ABC — needed to ensure the new rules can be fully and effectively applied.
