European Parliament approves new EU-wide welfare standards for dogs and cats

The European Parliament has approved new unified standards for the breeding, housing, tracking, and treatment of dogs and cats with 558 votes in favor, 35 against, and 52 abstentions. The regulation, which still requires formal approval from the Council of the EU, mandates that all cats and dogs within the EU must be microchipped and registered in interoperable national databases. Sellers, breeders, and shelters must comply within four years of the legislation's entry into force. For private owners, microchipping and registration become mandatory after 10 years for dogs and 15 years for cats. The rules prohibit breeding animals for extreme physical traits that endanger health and ban reproduction between close relatives. Additionally, the regulation outlaws cosmetic amputations for exhibitions, permanent tethering, and the use of spiked or choke collars. Animals imported from third countries for sale must be microchipped prior to entering the EU.