Document type: Press release issued by the Council of the European Union
Author: Council of the European Union
Preview: Today, member states' EU ambassadors (Coreper) agreed on the Council's negotiating mandate on a proposal to improve the welfare of cats and dogs by setting minimum EU-wide rules for the first time ever.
-Main Main elements of the Commission's proposal
The proposal aims to improve the welfare of cats and dogs that are kept by breeders, selling establishments, and shelters, while also improving consumer protection, ensuring fair competition and fighting illegal trade.
The proposal does not impact individual pet owners. However, anyone who wants to place a cat or a dog on the EU market will have to ensure that it is microchipped for traceability purposes.
The requirements in the proposal are intended as minimum standards to harmonise the EU market. If they wish, member states are allowed to maintain or introduce stricter rules.
-Welfare principles
The Council's negotiating position maintains the main welfare principles proposed by the Commission [...]
- Requirements for operators and establishments
The Council has also kept provisions regarding the obligations of operators and establishments [...]
- Main changes introduced by the Council
The Council's negotiating mandate makes a series of improvements to the proposal to enhance the welfare of cats and dogs [...]
Scope of the proposed regulation
Since some organizations, for instance NGOs, use foster homes to house abandoned, stray or unwanted cats and dogs, the Council decided to include foster homes within the scope of the regulation.
Authorisation of breeding establishments
The original Commission proposal required breeding establishments that keep more than three female cats or dogs and that produce in total two litters or more per year to be authorised after an on-site inspection by competent authorities. [...]
Imports from outside the EU
In line with the Commission's proposal, imports will be subject to the same or equivalent standards. This will enhance consumer protection and ensure the traceability of cats and dogs. [...]
Data protection
The Council also introduced provisions linked to data protection, to ensure the protection of personal data contained, for instance, in the databases of dogs and cats or in information transmitted by establishments.
- Next steps
The text agreed today by member states' EU ambassadors formalises the Council's negotiating position. Negotiations between the Council presidency and the European Parliament will start once the Parliament has agreed on its position. The outcome of the negotiations will determine the final shape of the legislation.[...]
