Your future puppy or kitten: how EU wants to regulate pet trade
New EU rules aim to establish minimum conditions for breeding, selling or placing cats and dogs in shelters in order to address concerns about their welfare.
Concerns about illegal trade in cats and dogs
The plans come in response to reports that cats and dogs are traded illegally in the EU. The Commission proposal cites evidence of health document forgeries and disguising sales of companion animals as transportation for other purposes that is subject to less stringent control.
The European Parliament called for measures against the illegal trade in cats and dogs in February 2020, saying it not only has catastrophic repercussions in terms of animal welfare but also poses risks to public health and consumer protection. MEPs proposed mandatory identification and registration of cats and dogs.
The Commission proposal notes that the trade in dogs and cats is very lucrative, with annual EU sales estimated at €1.3 billion, and some market participants may be ready to engage in unfair business practices. Some establishments are keeping dogs or cats in poor conditions, exhausting females to have many litters per year, providing insufficient food, and selling animals too young.
A Eurobarometer survey from 2023 showed that close to three-quarters of Europeans (74%) think that the welfare of companion animals - cats and dogs - in their country should be better protected than it is now.
More than eight in ten respondents in the survey in all EU countries said that ensuring good welfare conditions for cats and dogs bred for commercial purposes was important.
Minimum EU standards for the welfare of cats and dogs
Member States have very different animal welfare requirements for those who breed, keep and sell dogs and cats for commercial purposes. To establish some common minimum standards, the Commission proposed new rules on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability in December 2023.
The rules also cover bringing cats and dogs from countries outside the EU, and keeping animals in shelters as these could be used as channels for illegal trafficking.
The EU has some of world's highest animal welfare standards.
Find out more about EU legislation on animal welfare and protection.
Parliament’s position on the proposed rules
In June 2025, Parliament approved its position on minimum EU standards for the breeding, housing, and handling of cats and dogs.
The new rules could help authorities control the breeding and trade of dogs and cats, and make it easier for buyers to verify the origin of their future pet and check if rules have been followed.
Identification and registration of pets
MEPs are in favour of:
- Strict traceability: mandatory microchipping for identification for dogs and cats kept in the EU and registration in interoperable national databases,
- microchip for dogs and cats imported from non-EU countries for sale before their entry into the EU, and then registration in a national database,
- pet owners entering the EU from non-EU countries to pre-register their microchipped animal in an online database, at least five working days before arrival.
Rules on breeding and trade of dogs and cats
Parliament also suggests restrictions of some practices to improve the welfare of animals:
- prohibition on breeding between parents and offspring, grandparents and grandchildren, siblings and half-siblings, as this could increase the risk of genetic disorders and health defects in the offspring.
- ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet shops. This measure could close off a channel for impulse purchases and prevent irresponsible breeding, as pet shops are often linked to poor welfare conditions.
Find out more about pet trafficking: measures against the illegal puppy business.
Next steps
MEPs will now enter into negotiations with the Council on the final legislative text.
