Countries Unite in a First to Protect Cats and Dogs

The European Union has agreed on its first unified rules to protect dogs and cats from abuse, unsafe breeding, and illegal trade, strengthening animal welfare across all member states.

“Stronger rules on breeding and traceability will make it harder for abusive and illegal operators to hide,” said Veronika Vrecionová, Chair of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee.

The agreement introduces shared standards for breeding, housing, handling, traceability, and imports of dogs and cats, including mandatory microchipping and registration, bans on inbreeding and exaggerated physical traits, and tighter controls on animals entering from outside the bloc. With around 44% of households owning a pet and the trade valued at €1.3 billion a year, the rules aim to close loopholes in online sales, curb cruel practices, and reinforce the principle that pets are companions, not commodities.