In a landmark move, the European Parliament plenary adopted today the report (AGRI/10/00301) concerning the European Commission’s proposal on the welfare of cats and dogs and their traceability with 457 votes in favour, 17 against and 86 abstentions.
FVE, together with the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA), successfully advocated to support the essential measures to strengthen the protection of dogs and cats across the EU:
🐾 MEPs voted for mandatory Identification & Registration by veterinarians for all cats and dogs kept in the EU- Traceability saves lives, helps reunite lost animals, curbs illegal trade, and protects public health. These rules will come into force for dogs 5 years after the adoption of the Regulation and for cats 10 years after.
🏠 MEPs voted for minimum Welfare Standards for All Breeders (≥ 2 litters) – Welfare must not depend on the scale of the operation. This closed loopholes allowing neglect and illegal trade.
🚫 MEPs voted to ban the Sale of Cats and Dogs in Pet Shops – Pet shops are not suitable for dogs and cats. They fail to ensure proper socialisation and do not meet even the most essential welfare needs.
🗳️ MEPs voted for improved veterinary oversight – Unannounced visits by an official veterinarian for the purpose of advising on measures to address risks for animal welfare, health and the environment are crucial!
Work in progress: ✂️ MEPs voted against the ban on Preventive Mutilations – While procedures such as tail docking or ear cropping should never be carried out for preventive reasons, MEPs supported only medically necessary interventions performed by a veterinarian.
FVE thanks all our members and veterinarians who made a difference in speaking up for animal welfare, fighting illegal trade, and promoting responsible breeding across the EU. We thank you all for this commitment to improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them!
The next step is the trilogue, in which the European Commission, Parliament and Council meet to reach a compromise agreement. All going well, the final regulation will be agreed and adopted before the end of this year. This will be the first EU legislation setting minimum standards on the welfare and requiring the Identification and Registration of all cats and dogs in the EU, for which FVE & FECAVA have been calling for many years!
More info:
European Parliament Press Release
Amendments on the REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability
