EU countries reached a common position on the bloc’s first legislation for the welfare of cats and dogs on Wednesday (26 June).
The European Commission proposed Iin December 2023, for the first time minimum standards for dogs and cats kept by breeders, retail establishments and shelters to harmonize welfare requirements across Europe.
O regulations for dogs and cats and new legislation to improve livestock welfare during transport, are the only proposals in The planned review EU animal welfare rules released during the 2019-2024 term.
“Many Europeans have a big heart for animals, and this negotiating mandate clearly demonstrates this,” said the Flemish Minister of Education, Sport and Ben Weyts Animal Welfare in One Press release.
“Now we are laying a good foundation to further develop an animal policy at European level in the coming years”, he added.
The Commission’s proposal, approved by ministers in the Council, would require all dogs and cats to be microchipped and registered in a national database before they are sold or donated.
But charity Four Paws said all dogs and cats should be chipped – not just those who change hands. They highlighted that this exemption could continue to fuel the illegal pet trade.
“Excluding animals that this can not being in establishments (…), where the majority are dogs and cats, which are strays or private pets, from the scope of the regulation will allow current loopholes, fraud and market distortions to be perpetuated”, said Georgia Diamantopoulou, coordinator of Four Paws, in a press release.
Member states also proposed banning the crossing of dogs and cats with wild species, such as wolfdog breeds, and excluding animals with “extreme characteristics” from breeding.
The European Parliament still needs to adopt its position on the draft legislation. Four Paws is expected to adopt a more ambitious approach, as reflected in the previous parliament resolutions.
Parliament’s Agriculture Committee (AGRI) will take the lead on this dossier, with Veronika Vrecionová (ECR) from the Czech Republic – who I have been re-elected for the period 2024-2029 mandate – as rapporteur.
[Edited by Angelo Di Mambro and Rajnish Singh]
