Last Tuesday, the European Parliament's Agriculture (AGRI) Committee adopted the amendments to the proposed EU Regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability. ‘The good news is that all dogs and cats held by breeders, sellers and shelters must be identified with a microchip and registered in an EU database,’ said Volker Moser, UEVP President. This also applies to pets offered for sale or donation online. Other good news: microchips can only be implanted by a vet or under his or her supervision.
Privately owned pets exempt from microchipping
Microchipped dogs and cats should be registered in interoperable national database. 'Unfortunately, pets from private households and farms are exempt from the microchip requirement,' regrets the UEVP president. EU sources say this is intended to avoid additional bureaucratic burdens for EU citizens. Other measures include a ban on breeding between parents and offspring, grandparents and grandchildren, as well as between siblings and half-siblings.
Ban on the breeding of pets with excessive traits
Puppies and kittens may not be separated from their mothers until they are at least eight weeks old unless there is a specific veterinary justification. To prevent exploitation, the regulation caps the number of litters per female and introduces mandatory rest periods between pregnancies. Furthermore, MEPs want a ban on the breeding of dogs or cats with excessive conformational traits impacting their welfare, as well as a ban on their participation in shows, exhibitions or competitions.
Final adoption expected early 2026
The European Parliament is expected to vote on the regulation in plenary before the summer recess, followed by trilogue negotiations. ‘This is a first step towards greater animal welfare, reducing the burden on animal shelters,’ said Volker Moser, welcoming the vote. He said the UEVP was committed to a positive outcome, even though not all of its demands had been met.
Ahead of the AGRI vote, the ENVI Committee had also adopted its opinion, including key recommendations such mandatory registration by a veterinarian within seven days. A possible final adoption of the European text is expected in late 2025 or early 2026.