Regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

Key points

The EESC:

• is pleased with the measures taken by the EU to promote the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats;
• points out that developing identification and registration systems is key to improving the welfare of dogs and cats, as it makes it easier to trace animals’ origin and health history;
• points out that this regulation has a significant impact on the pet market as it will potentially increase costs for breeders and dealers, who will have to adapt to the new requirements;
• calls for minimum rules on penalties for infringement of the regulation;
• recommends that particular attention be paid to support and education for breeders and dealers to help them adapt to the new requirements;
• points out the need to strengthen international cooperation on the exchange of information, best practices and joint operations to combat the illegal trade in animals;
• underlines that it will be crucial to ensure adequate resources for identification and registration systems so that they are effective and accessible to all stakeholders;
• welcomes the proposal, which aims to ensure that all dogs and cats in the EU enjoy a high level of welfare and are properly identified and registered, making it easier to trace them and prevent smuggling.