EU-wide Rules for Cat and Dog Welfare Agreed Upon by Member States
EU countries have come to an agreement on the first-ever legislation concerning the welfare of cats and dogs within the bloc. The proposal, put forth by the European Commission in December 2023, sets minimum standards for the care of cats and dogs by breeders, selling establishments, and shelters to ensure consistent welfare practices across Europe.
According to the agreed-upon legislation, all cats and dogs must be microchipped and registered on a national database before being sold or given away. However, the NGO Four Paws argues that this requirement should apply to all cats and dogs, not just those changing ownership, in order to combat the illegal pet trade effectively.
Additionally, member states have proposed a ban on crossbreeding cats and dogs with wild species and excluding animals with extreme physical traits from breeding. The European Parliament still needs to adopt its position on the draft legislation, with hopes that a more ambitious approach will be taken based on previous parliament resolutions.
The Parliament’s Agriculture committee will lead the way on this issue, with Czechia’s Veronika Vrecionová as the rapporteur for the 2024-2029 term.
SOURCE
John Peterson graduated with a degree in Agricultural Sciences from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. His specialization is in sustainable crop production and soil health management. John is passionate about integrating modern technology with traditional farming methods to enhance productivity while preserving the environment. He currently works as a consultant, helping farmers adopt sustainable practices.