On 1st April, Eurogroup for Animals published its position on the mandatory registration of cats and dogs.
As the European Commission’s proposal on the welfare and traceability of cats and dogs continues to be examined by the European Parliament, the organisation reiterates that the mandatory identification and registration of all companion animals remains a crucial component of the future legislation.
Eurogroup for Animals warns that, according to the amendments currently under discussion, certain animals could be excluded from the obligation to be microchipped and registered, creating legal loopholes that may facilitate the persistence of the illegal pet trade. This could also lead to revenue losses for tax authorities and maintain a significant burden on public services, particularly regarding the management of abandoned or unwanted animals.
The organisation points out that, to date, 24 EU Member States require dogs to be microchipped, and 7 of them also impose this requirement for cats. Several other countries are planning to extend these obligations in the coming years. In some cases, the rules also apply to stray animals that had never been registered before.
Eurogroup for Animals is therefore calling for the establishment of an EU-wide traceability system for companion animals to ensure cross-border accessibility to data on animal owners, health, and diseases. According to the organisation, making microchipping mandatory would also help to rebalance the cost of animal management by shifting the financial responsibility from the public sector to those placing the animals on the market.
Other European stakeholders have also taken a stance on this issue, including EUROPETNET, Animal Health Europe, FVE, FEDIAF and Four Paws.