Animal category: Felines

European Parliament: written answer to question E-001104/25: Management of stray animals in the EU

Question: Nikos Pappas (The Left). Answer: Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission

Published in 2025

Answer to a question from a Member of the European Parliament from the European Commission on the measures it envisages for the management of stray animals in the Member States. No common legislative framework is planned for stray animals other than those kept in shelters, but funding is being put in place via the WHOA regional platform to facilitate the application of international standards.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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European Commission - Welfare of dogs and cats

EU Commission

Published in 2025

Information published by the European Commission outlining the stages of the revision of the regulations on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability, the new draft of which was published on December 7, 2023.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Agriculture Committee votes on first EU rules on welfare of dogs and cats

Hana Raissi

Published in 2025

Press release announcing the adoption by the European Parliament of groundbreaking rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats, including compulsory electronic identification and a ban on breeding establishments for animals with extreme characteristics.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Assemblée nationale : Réponse écrite à la question n°5678 : Vente des animaux domestiques en animalerie et à la question n°4997 : vente d’animaux sur internet

Questions: Mr Philippe Fait (Pas-de-Calais (4th constituency) - Ensemble pour la République) and Mr Bruno Bilde (Pas-de-Calais (12th constituency) - Rassemblement National). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

Answer to a question from French Assembly members concerning the actions taken to circumvent the ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops introduced on January 1, 2024 intended to restrict impulse purchases and abandonment. Without a clear system of penalties, online sales with in-store pick-ups are continuing.  The Government states that it plans to tighten regulation and controls, notably via a dedicated pet welfare plan launched in May 2024.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Instruction technique DGAL/SDSBEA/2025-254 du 14-04-2025 : Certificat d'engagement et de connaissance délivré avant acquisition d'un animal de compagnie

French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Update to the DGAL technical instruction of 14/11/2022, invoving changes to the content of the compulsory certificate of commitment and knowledge that must now be issued prior to the acquisition of a pet.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

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Assemblée nationale : Réponse à la question n°126 : Budget alloué aux associations pour la stérilisation des chats errants

Question: Mr Karl Olive (Yvelines (12th constituency) - Ensemble pour la République). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Question from a French Deputy to the government on how the law on stray cats should be implemented and what local councillors need to do to gain access to the funding earmarked to deal with the problem of stray cats, in particular through sterilization.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Felines

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite aux questions n°3208 : Application de la loi visant à lutter contre la maltraitance animale, et n°3072 : Vente illégale d’animaux sur Internet

Questions: Ms Lisa Belluco (Vienne (1st constituency) - Écologiste et Social). Mr. Kévin Pfeffer (Moselle (6th constituency) - Rassemblement National). Answer: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty

Published in 2025

Questions from two Deputies to he Government on loopholes in the application of the 2021 law against animal abuse, particularly in the area of illegal sales of animals on the internet and the persistence of certain practices in pet shops. In response, the Ministry lists the actions it has already undertaken (decrees, controls, tools for verifying online ads) and announces a national plan for pet welfare, constructed around five axes. A regulatory review is also underway to better supervise the keeping of animals in pet shops in connection with online sales.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines, Exotic pets

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°1079 : Mise en œuvre du plan pour le bien-être animal

Question: Corinne Vignon (Haute-Garonne (3rd constituency) - Ensemble pour la République). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

Corine Vignon (Ensemble pour la République) has asked the Ministry about follow-up actions following the national pet welfare plan launched in May 2024. The Government reminds her that this plan aims to combat abandonment and abuse through coordinated actions between ministries and those active in the sector. It is based on five axes, including improving knowledge, training, strengthening regulations and funding. Interministerial governance and tools such as the "Ma sécurité" platform will enable better monitoring and more effective application of measures.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°128 : Euthanasies d’animaux

Question: Mme Maud Petit (Val-de-Marne (4th district) - Les Démocrates). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

In response to a question from a Deputy on the abusive euthanasia practices of some shelters and pounds, the French government replies that it is closely monitoring the issue of animal euthanasia, and has set up the Observatoire de la protection des carnivores domestiques (OCAD) to improve the collection of information on abandonment and euthanasia figures. The oversight framework for the pet trade is designed to limit impulse buying and encourage responsible adoption. OCAD is continuing its work to refine the data and strengthen animal protection.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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Assemblée nationale : réponse écrite à la question n°1077 : Interdiction de la vente de chiens et chats dans les animaleries

Question: M. Karine Lebon (Réunion (2nd district) - Gauche Démocrate et Républicaine). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

Published in 2025

In response to a question from a Deputy on the fact that, although the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops has been illegal since January 2024, the absence of penalties hampers enforcement, the government notes that the temporary accommodation in pet shops of animals involved in online sales is tolerated. It is also working on strengthening the European regulations on the welfare and traceability of pets.

Document types: Regulation/Certification

Animal categories: Canines, Felines

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