For the first time, the EU is introducing a common framework for companion animals, setting minimum standards across all Member States while allowing stricter national rules. Until now, dogs and cats were largely governed by fragmented national systems, leading to uneven welfare standards, enforcement gaps, and opportunities for illegal breeding and cross-border trafficking.
The final agreement, reached in November 2025 after complex negotiations, establishes minimum welfare requirements for breeding, keeping and selling dogs and cats, alongside a mandatory traceability system based on national databases. These systems will be interconnected through an EU-level index database, enabling authorities to better track animals across borders. Online platforms will also be required to support seller traceability.
At the core of the reform is a shift in approach: traceability becomes essential infrastructure. All dogs and cats placed on the EU market will need to be identified, registered, and linked to a breeder and seller, closing long-standing loopholes exploited by illegal operators.
However, important gaps remain. Certain animals are excluded, including cats on farms and dogs used by police, military and customs authorities, raising concerns about enforcement and equal protection.
Implementation will take time, with transition periods ranging from two to fifteen years. In the meantime, Member States must maintain strong national standards and address ongoing challenges such as overpopulation, driven by irresponsible breeding and ownership. Effective population management, including sterilisation, remains key.
Much of the detail will still be defined through future implementing rules, which will shape how effective the regulation ultimately becomes.
This legislation marks a turning point: companion animal welfare is now firmly on the EU agenda, with a shift towards a more coordinated and accountable European approach.
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