Proposal on welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

In the framework of the 'farm to fork' strategy, the Commission committed to a complete overhaul of the animal welfare rules. Accordingly, on 7 December 2023 it published a proposal on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, together with a proposal for a new regulation on animal welfare in transport. At present, the rules on the protection of dog and cat welfare across the EU are not harmonised. The proposal therefore aims to establish EU standards for the breeding, housing and handling of pets in breeding establishments, pet shops and shelters. To combat the illegal trade in dogs and cats – a ruthless practice that is flourishing through online sales – the Commission seeks to reinforce the traceability of dogs and cats by introducing mandatory identification and registration in national databases. In the European Parliament, the file has been assigned to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), with Veronika Vrecionová (ECR, Czechia) as rapporteur.