The European Union has adopted a historic package of harmonized regulations governing the welfare, traceability, and trade of dogs and cats. The new standards aim to eliminate pseudo-breeding operations, animal smuggling, and cruel breeding practices, which have often remained outside effective oversight due to differences in national laws. Agreed upon by the European Parliament and member states, these regulations establish uniform minimum standards for the entire European pet market. Some of the rules will enter into force in mid-2028, directly impacting the living conditions of animals and the safety of their buyers.

Scale of the Phenomenon and the Need for Protection

The trade in dogs and cats is a significant sector of the economy in the European Union, with an annual value estimated at approximately 1.3 billion euros. Research indicates that nearly 44% of EU citizens own a pet, with cats and dogs dominating the landscape, constituting around 90% of the pet population. A major challenge for regulators is that approximately 60% of people purchasing animals do so via the internet. On the day one of the studies was conducted, over 400,000 dogs and over 104,000 cats were offered for sale on EU classified ads websites, illustrating the enormous scale of this market. Such extensive digitization of sales makes it difficult to verify the origin of animals and the standards of their previous keeping.

European society is increasingly engaged in animal welfare issues. As many as 74% of Union citizens believe that domestic four-legged pets should be given better protection than before. The simultaneous existence of pseudo-breeding operations, where animals are kept in conditions that are ethically and health-wise unacceptable, and legal breeders who maintain high standards creates an uneven competitive landscape. Legal breeders often face unfair competitors who, driven solely by profit, ignore the biological needs of the animals, leading to the suffering of pets and health problems for their future owners.

Ban on Cruel Practices and New Breeding Standards

The new EU regulations introduce strict restrictions on the reproduction of dogs and cats. According to the new standards, female cats must not be bred before reaching 10 months of age, and female dogs before their second heat. Additionally, female dogs and cats are entitled to a maximum of three litters within two years, after which a mandatory one-year recovery period is required. This breeding regime is intended to prevent the exhaustion of the female organism and reduce the risk of diseases.

The regulations prohibit the breeding of dogs and cats in close-relative lines, including between parents and offspring, grandparents and grandchildren, and between half-siblings. Such practices increase the risk of genetic disorders and congenital defects in young animals. The new rules also prohibit breeding selection aimed at achieving extreme phenotypic traits that lead to serious health problems. Excluding animals with distorted builds from the market is expected to limit the suffering of these individuals.

Traceability and the Fight Against Smuggling

A key element of the new regulations is the requirement for universal animal identification. All dogs and cats residing in the EU, regardless of whether they are owned by private individuals or breeders, must have an implanted microchip and be registered in national databases. These databases are to be interoperable, enabling institutions and buyers to verify the origin of an animal and check whether applicable standards have been observed. For animals imported from third countries, chipping must occur before entry into the EU, and the animal must subsequently be registered in the local system.

The regulations also tighten animal import rules to close legal loopholes exploited by smugglers. Breeders from non-EU countries wishing to export dogs and cats to the Union will be required to apply the same welfare and breeding standards as their European counterparts. The European Commission will draw up a list of third countries whose breeders meet these requirements, and each of these countries will provide lists of approved and controlled facilities. The regulations cover both commercial and non-commercial import, making it impossible to falsely justify moving animals "with their owner" to bypass stricter transport regulations.

Housing and Care Standards

The new standards also apply to the daily housing of animals in professional facilities, such as breeders, shelters, and pet shops. It will be prohibited to tie dogs and cats to objects for longer than one hour, except in cases justified by medical indications. These facilities must provide dogs with access to outdoor space and must not keep dogs or cats in cages on a permanent basis. The use of spiked collars and prong collars lacking safety mechanisms is also banned.

Staff training is also becoming mandatory. In every pet shop, breeding facility, and shelter, at least one employee must complete a specialized course on proper care for dogs and cats. Facilities will also be required to provide new animal owners with information regarding proper care, feeding, and behavior, which is intended to reduce the number of surrenders resulting from a lack of knowledge.

Decisions

  • Adoption of minimum harmonized EU standards concerning the breeding, keeping, traceability, import, and treatment of cats and dogs (entry into force of certain provisions: mid-2028).