The European Parliament (EP), with an overwhelming majority of 457 votes in favor, only 17 against, and 86 abstentions, approved its position on the proposed Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats. This vote is not just an administrative step; it is the culmination of decades of struggle by animal protection organizations, a concrete ray of hope for millions of sentient beings suffering in Europe's lucrative and often shadowy pet trade.
The path has not been easy. The European Commission (EC) presented its initial proposal in December 2023, finally acknowledging the urgent need to harmonize animal welfare standards that vary enormously among the 27 member states and to combat a booming illegal trade fueled by growing pet demand (it is estimated that 44% of European households have one) and the ease of online sales. A sector worth around €1.3 billion annually, but where animal suffering has, until now, been an acceptable cost for many unscrupulous players.
Key Measures Approved by the European Parliament
After intense debates, amendments, and the adoption of the Council of the EU's position last year, the EP has taken a decisive step, significantly strengthening the original proposal in crucial aspects. The legislative package voted on by the European Parliament includes an unprecedented set of reforms. Among the main approved measures are the following:
- Mandatory Identification and Traceability: All dogs and cats must have an electronic microchip. Identification data will be recorded in interoperable national databases and a common European database managed by the Commission. Even animals imported for commercial purposes must be microchipped before entering the EU, and travelers bringing pets must pre-register them with a chip at least five days before travel. This represents a 180-degree turn from the initial proposal: while the Commission only required registration for animals "for sale," Parliament has imposed traceability for all captive-bred specimens, making illegal trafficking extremely difficult.
- Ban on Sales in Stores: The display and sale of dogs and cats in pet stores is strictly prohibited. This cuts off an "impulse" shopping channel that encouraged irresponsible purchases; now these animals may only be acquired directly from registered breeders or through adoptions via authorized associations. Spain already anticipated this measure: since September 2024, Law 7/2023 prohibits the sale of dogs, cats, and ferrets in stores, requiring that they can only be obtained from officially registered breeders.
- Regulation of Breeders: Minimum welfare standards apply to all breeding establishments, regardless of their size. Mandatory annual veterinary inspections will be imposed on facilities, conducted by specifically trained independent veterinarians. The number of litters each female can have in her lifetime is also limited, and inbreeding (between parents and offspring or animals from the same litter or half-siblings) is prohibited. Breeding animals with extreme conformation traits (morphologies that compromise their health) is also banned. These rules close the "door" to clandestine breeding farms and "puppy mills": for example, Parliament explicitly included small breeders (less than four litters per year), closing a legal loophole affecting 80% of breeders in some countries.
- Housing and Welfare Conditions: Tying dogs or cats outdoors is prohibited except for temporary veterinary reasons, and spiked or choke collars without safety stops are eliminated. In summary, basic welfare principles (adequate nutrition, sufficient space, health care) must be complied with in all cases.
- Positive List of Pets: As an innovative point, MEPs supported the future creation of a positive list of companion species. This would open the way to regulating which animals (beyond dogs and cats) can legally be kept as pets, requiring scientific welfare criteria for each species. The inclusion of this mechanism is seen as a step towards restricting the sale of exotic or dangerous species, establishing harmonized rules for the entire EU.
This is a monumental milestone, but it is not the end of the process. Now begin the three-way negotiations (or "trilogues") between the European Parliament, the Council of the EU (which represents the governments of the member states and already adopted its position, generally more conservative than the EP's, in 2024), and the European Commission. The goal is to reach a compromise text acceptable to all three institutions.
Some potentially contentious points in these negotiations could be:
- The exact scope of "breeders": The precise definition of which establishments and above what number of animals are subject to the strictest rules.
- The implementation details of the registries: The costs and logistics of interoperable national systems and the European index.
- Transition periods: The time member states, breeders, and owners will have to adapt to the new rules (especially universal microchipping).
- The strength of the prohibitions: Ensuring that the bans (sales in stores, breeding for extreme traits, certain collars, etc.) are clear and without diluting exceptions.
Collectively, these reforms represent an attempt to establish "a fully regulated pet trade," in the words of Iwona Mertin of Eurogroup for Animals, who celebrated that the European Parliament has finally taken a decisive step to end irregular breeding. Among the MEPs, Veronika Vrecionová (ECR, Czechia), rapporteur of the proposal, stands out; she described the regulation as "a clear step forward against illegal breeding and irresponsible importation" of animals. However, several experts warn that the final negotiation with the Council will be key, as some governments are pushing to maintain certain exceptions (e.g., for hunting packs or military dogs). Therefore, allied organizations in Eurogroup for Animals, such as AnimaNaturalis, have already urged European ministers to strengthen identification requirements during the upcoming legislative "trilogues."
"This vote is a beacon of hope, a recognition of the tireless work of so many organizations and people. But let's not lower our guard. Now comes the crucial battle of the final negotiations," explains Aïda Gascón, director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain. "From AnimaNaturalis, we will demand that our government and Spanish MEPs firmly defend the improvements approved by Parliament, especially the inclusion of all breeders, universal traceability, and the ban in stores. When the law becomes a reality, we will closely monitor its implementation in Spain. We need centralized and accessible registries, rigorous inspections, and dissuasive sanctions for those who continue to profit from animal suffering. This is a historic first step, yes, but only the first. The path towards a Europe where no animal is treated as merchandise continues. The fight for exotic animals, for farm animals, for all sentient beings, is strengthened today by this victory," she adds.
Implications for Spain
For Spain, many of these measures reinforce legislative trends already underway. The aforementioned Law 7/2023 on the Protection of Companion Animals (entered into force in 2023-24) already prohibited the sale of dogs, cats, and ferrets in stores as of September 2024, allowing only direct sales from registered breeders. Non-compliance with this provision carried fines of €50,000 to €200,000, and now this scenario extends to the entire EU. In fact, the Spanish Director General for Animal Rights, José Ramón Becerra, explained that work is already underway to help stores reorient their activity towards advice and adoption, so that "the prohibition is as least damaging as possible for businesses."
In practice, Spanish breeders will have to comply with stricter EU standards. Many are small family operations or hobbyists, who will now be subject to periodic inspections and a limit on litters per female. Additionally, all dogs and cats (national or imported) must be identified and registered. Although Spain already required microchipping for dogs (and even for cats in several Autonomous Communities), the new regulation introduces for the first time the harmonization of registries. Data must be integrated into unified national databases and reported to the European Commission, which will require technological adaptations and administrative coordination. Similarly, surveillance over imports is strengthened: any dog or cat traded from outside the EU must have been microchipped previously at origin, preventing irregular entries.
For Spanish consumers and authorities, the impact will be mixed. Pet owners will have a more robust framework of guarantees: they will be able to track their animals in a European system and be protected against fraudulent breeders. Conversely, buyers will see the legal supply restricted to regulated channels (authorized breeders, shelters, or rescue centers). Security forces and local health authorities will need to collaborate more closely at the European level. As recalled nationally, police still need training to pursue illegal trade via social networks. In fact, Becerra himself noted that the ban on sales in stores cuts off a traditional route for trafficked animals into Spain, which will help curb the underground pet economy.
In any case, Spain already has most of the mechanisms to implement the new rules: the Companion Animal Registry (created by national law) will serve as the basis for incorporating microchip data at the European level. It remains to be seen how regulatory developments will articulate these obligations, especially regarding databases and cross-border controls.
Next Legislative Steps
Following this Parliament vote, the regulation continues its processing: trilogue negotiations with the Council of the EU begin now, where national governments will define the final version of the text. Initial meetings are expected in the coming months, with the aim of reaching an agreement before the end of 2025 or early 2026. Animal rights groups have already warned they will be vigilant during this phase, urging commissioners not to soften the requirements. For example, Eurogroup for Animals has urged institutions to strengthen identification provisions to avoid loopholes. Once adopted, the regulation will be directly applicable in all Member States; Spain will then need to harmonize its internal procedures (e.g., the national pet registry) with European obligations.
AnimaNaturalis has announced it will continue to influence the process. Its spokespersons recall that challenges remain, such as ensuring that entire groups (e.g., hunting packs) are not exempted or that implementation deadlines are not delayed. The group will also prepare informational initiatives for Spanish owners and breeders so they know their new responsibilities. "Every delay in implementation is a life sentence for beings who deserve dignity," warns Gascón in the context of the final debates. In summary, although the approved package represents a major advance, its ultimate effectiveness will depend on continued political and civic commitment.
The European Parliament vote sets an unprecedented precedent by placing dogs and cats at the center of EU animal welfare regulation. Now more than ever, it is important that organizations like AnimaNaturalis continue translating public interest in animals into concrete legislation. The progress achieved demonstrates that social and political pressure can transform animal interests into protective laws. That's why we invite citizens to maintain their support: every signature, every awareness-raising action, and every responsible adoption reinforces the demand for strict policies.
