EU Parliament Adopts New Rules to Protect Cats, Dogs
MEPs backed stricter breeding, microchipping and import rules after the Commission said about 60% of owners buy pets online.
- On Tuesday, The European Parliament approved landmark legislation to protect dogs and cats, passing the bill 558–35–52 to establish new EU standards for breeding, housing, and traceability.
- The European Commission proposed these measures to curb cruel business methods, citing the €1.3 billion pet market where around 60% of owners purchase animals online, often facing "distress and economic burden" from health issues.
- New regulations explicitly ban breeding animals for exaggerated traits or between close relatives, while prohibiting mutilation for shows, tethering, and the use of harmful prong or choke collars.
- All pets must be microchipped and registered in interoperable databases, with sellers and shelters given four years to comply; private owners face phased deadlines of ten years for dogs and 15 for cats.
- Following parliamentary approval, the European Council must adopt the bill before it becomes law, which Rapporteur Veronika Vrecionov says will "push back against those who see animals as a means of making a quick profit.
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EU approves landmark regulations on animal abuse
The European Parliament on Tuesday approved a landmark bill creating protections for cats and dogs. The bill, first proposed in December 2023, establishes regulations for “EU standards for the breeding, housing, traceability, import and handling of cats and dogs.” It was adopted on Tuesday with 558 votes in favor, 35 against, and with 52 abstentions. The bill applies to all cats and dogs in the EU, including those entering from non-EU countries…
The European Parliament has finally given the green light to the first comprehensive rules at the level of the European Union related to the protection of the welfare of dogs and cats.
MEPs gave the final green light on Tuesday to the first EU standards for the breeding, housing, traceability, import and handling of cats and dogs. The European Parliament adopted a draft law that aims to stop abusive practices, reduce acts of cruelty and protect the health of cats and dogs, according to a statement from the EU legislature. The draft …
This is a historic turning point for our four-legged companions. On Tuesday 28 April 2026, MEPs finally adopted new legislation to protect dogs and cats within the European Union.
European Parliament Approves EU-Wide Pet Microchipping
The European Parliament has adopted a new regulation introducing European Union-wide rules on the breeding, sale, and ownership of dogs and cats, aiming to combat illegal trade and improve animal welfare across member states. The legislation, agreed with the Council of the European Union in November 2025, establishes for the first time common standards across the bloc. It requires that all dogs and cats be microchipped and registered in national…
The European Parliament in Strasbourg has adopted new rules for the protection of dogs and cats.
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