Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states reached an agreement in Strasbourg on the 25th, requiring all cats and dogs kept within the European Union to be implanted with microchips for identification.
Transition Periods and Implementation
According to a report by the German Press Agency (dpa), the microchip requirement includes a multi-year transition period. The European Parliament states that the requirement will take effect in:
- 10 years for dogs.
- 15 years for cats.
The agreement still requires formal approval from both the European Parliament and EU member states.
Combating Illegal Trade
The agreement is based on a 2023 proposal by the European Commission, which highlighted that high prices and growing demand have fueled the black market.
“Illegal trade has surged due to the proliferation of online advertising and social media, as criminals can easily reach large audiences.” — European Commission
The Commission emphasized that current regulations previously only applied to animals used for scientific research or commercial transport. Criminals frequently forge documents, including vaccination certificates for serious diseases like rabies. The mandatory identification system aims to reliably verify origin and health status, making it much harder to resell animals that have been illegally bred or smuggled into the EU.
Political Support
Peter Liese, a CDU Member of the European Parliament (MEP), welcomed the proposal: “Combating illegal dog trade is crucial, and this resolution will make a major contribution.”
Tilly Metz, a Green Party MEP from Luxembourg, also praised the move as sensible:
“This cost-effective measure enables animal traceability, exposes criminal networks, and relieves the burden on local authorities.”
New Breeding and Welfare Standards
Metz noted that future regulations will require breeding farms to ensure animals meet a specific age before mating. They must also provide adequate space and enrichment opportunities. Breeding methods that cause suffering are set to be banned.
The German Animal Welfare Association pointed out that certain selectively bred traits cause lifelong pain. For example, most brachycephalic (short-headed) dogs suffer from chronic respiratory issues.
Specific measures include:
- Cats: A ban on using cats with health-risk traits in breeding or competitions.
- Hybrids: A ban on mating wild animals with domestic animals.
- Mutilations: Strict restrictions on inbreeding and painful procedures such as tail docking and ear cropping (with exceptions for medical necessity).
“Through these measures, we are explicitly limiting practices that cause unnecessary suffering to animals,” said Peter Liese.
The Scale of the Issue
According to official data, EU citizens own over 72 million dogs and 83 million cats. The trade value for these animals is estimated to be approximately €1.3 billion annually.