All dogs and cats in the EU should be microchipped and registered to protect them, the environment committee of the European Parliament said on Tuesday. The committee voted strongly in favor of the new law, with 67 votes for and nine against.
The new rules aim to stop the illegal trade of dogs and cats, improve animal welfare, and help trace pets across the EU. Every dog and cat would need to be chipped and registered with details about their breeder, origin, and owner. If a pet is adopted, the shelter’s name would be included.
A new EU system would allow authorities to access this information, even if the animal crosses borders. It would also help stop illegal online ads. If someone tries to sell a pet online, the system checks if the chip matches the seller. If not, the ad would not be allowed.
Illegal pet trade
“Measures to stop illegal pet trade are very much needed. Every year, 6 million dogs are sold in the EU. Four out of five animals cannot be traced back to the breeder or original seller. The illegal trade causes a lot of suffering for the animals,” said Member of the European Parliament Anja Hazekamp, who is working on the law. “We want to put an end to the suffering caused to dogs and cats.”
The law also includes stronger rules for breeders and shelters. They must register, provide proper care, give clean food and water, and house animals in a safe environment. Mutilation and breeding for extreme features would be banned.
“Some of the requirements set by the law may seem obvious, but they are not. Animal protection organizations like House of Animals regularly report on terrible conditions in ‘puppy mills’ and with illegal pet sellers,” Hazekamp said.
Microchipping also helps stop abuse, reunite lost pets with their owners, and reduce the number of stray animals. An estimated 100 million dogs and cats live on the streets in Europe.
Before the law becomes official, it must also be approved by the agriculture committee, the European Parliament, and all 27 EU countries.
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