Publications

On 28 April 2026, the European Parliament adopted the Regulation on the Welfare and Traceability of Dogs and Cats – the first EU-level act establishing binding uniform standards for companion animals across all 27 Member States. The regulation completes a legislative process initiated by the European Commission's proposal of 7 December 2023.

Background and Context

Prior to this regulation, EU animal welfare legislation addressed primarily laboratory animals and animals in commercial transport. No unified framework existed for dogs and cats kept as companion animals. Member States operated under divergent national systems – well-developed in some jurisdictions, fragmented in others.

This regulatory divergence had measurable consequences for the functioning of the Single Market. Differences in breeding and keeping standards created incentives for operators to register in lower-requirement jurisdictions while supplying animals across the EU. Illegal trade developed a systemic character: the EU's Alert and Cooperation Network logged significant volumes of notifications each year concerning traders posing as private owners to circumvent commercial trade controls. Buyers, in turn, lacked reliable information about the origin or health status of animals at the point of purchase.

The scale of the sector gives weight to these concerns. EU citizens own over 72 million dogs and 83 million cats; the annual market value of the sector is estimated at approximately €1.3 billion. According to the 2023 Eurobarometer survey, 44% of EU citizens owned a companion animal, and 74% considered that the level of protection for such animals required strengthening.

74% of EU citizens considered that protection of companion animals required strengthening. Eurobarometer 2023.

The Commission's legislative proposal was tabled on 7 December 2023. A provisional inter-institutional agreement between Parliament and Council was reached on 25 November 2025; the final plenary vote took place on 28 April 2026.

Key Provisions

Housing and daily care

The regulation prohibits the permanent keeping of dogs in cages. Cage use is permitted exclusively during transport, veterinary procedures and participation in shows. Dogs from the age of eight weeks are entitled to daily outdoor access for a minimum of one hour. Social isolation in cages is classified as a welfare violation.

The use of spike collars, choke chains without safety mechanisms, and routine tethering of animals to fixed objects outside veterinary settings is prohibited. Adapted provisions apply to herding, working and hunting dogs.

Breeding

The regulation introduces quantitative limits on breeding intensity: a maximum of three litters per female within any two-year period. The minimum age for a first mating is 18 months; mandatory recovery intervals between litters are required. Repeated caesarean sections are restricted to exceptional circumstances.

Close inbreeding – between parent and offspring, full siblings, and grandparent-grandchild pairings – is explicitly prohibited. The sale of animals through pet shops is subject to significant restrictions.

Extreme conformational traits: regulatory approach and clinical context

Article 6 of the regulation prohibits deliberate selection for traits with a demonstrated negative impact on the health and welfare of the animal. The provision primarily concerns brachycephaly – a morphological condition characterised by foreshortening of the skull and muzzle. The clinical consequences of brachycephaly are well-documented in the scientific literature.

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is the principal complication, manifesting as chronic upper airway obstruction, reduced tolerance for physical exertion and heat stress, and sleep disruption. Associated conditions include ophthalmic pathology (corneal ulceration, keratoconjunctivitis sicca), Hansen type I intervertebral disc disease (HIVD) in chondrodystrophic breeds, and chronic dermatitis secondary to excessive skin folding.

Data from the VetCompass Programme (over 2 million dogs in UK primary care) indicate that more than 20% belonged to breeds with extreme conformation.

The regulation does not impose an outright ban on breeding brachycephalic breeds. It does, however, require that selection and breeding programmes actively minimise the welfare consequences of those traits. Detailed technical criteria – Delegated Acts – on conformational traits are to be adopted by 2030; those addressing detrimental genotypes by 2036. The substantive regulatory content governing breeding practice will largely be contained in these subsequent instruments.

Prohibited surgical procedures

Ear cropping, tail docking, declawing and devocalisation are no longer permissible as cosmetic or routine prophylactic procedures. Any such intervention is lawful only where supported by documented medical necessity, certified by a veterinarian. This materially expands the certifying function of the veterinary practitioner: a veterinary opinion becomes a mandatory legal basis rather than solely a clinical document.

Staff training and veterinary oversight

Staff in all licensed establishments – breeding facilities, pet shops and shelters – must complete accredited training programmes in animal behaviour, handling and welfare standards. Annual veterinary inspections are established as a mandatory condition of licensing.

Traceability framework

The regulation extends mandatory identification and registration to all dog and cat owners across the EU, regardless of commercial status. Publicly accessible, interconnected national databases are to be established. Digital platforms are required to verify the identification data of an animal before publishing a sale or transfer advertisement. These measures are directed at eliminating trading schemes in which operators present themselves as private owners to avoid regulatory oversight.

Timeline and Entry into Force

Publication in the Official Journal of the EU is expected during 2026. General application follows two years after publication – broadly from 2028. Specific provisions are subject to transition periods ranging from two to fifteen years. The regulation establishes minimum standards; Member States retain the right to maintain or introduce stricter national requirements.

Implications for Ukraine

The EU–Ukraine Association Agreement and the accession negotiation process entail progressive alignment of Ukrainian veterinary legislation with the EU acquis. This regulation sets new benchmarks in several areas directly relevant to the Ukrainian sector.

From a veterinary practice perspective, the regulation broadens the normative role of the practitioner: a veterinary certificate becomes a mandatory condition for a range of procedures. Giving effect to this in Ukrainian law will require corresponding regulatory development at the implementation stage. For market operators – breeding establishments, pet shops and shelters – the regulation points to revised housing standards, qualification requirements for staff and documentation systems.

Traceability constitutes a distinct policy question. EU identification and registration requirements will apply to animals imported from third countries, including Ukraine. The absence of a compatible national registration system could represent a practical constraint on the lawful movement of animals in the medium term.

The Veterinary Alliance of Ukraine will monitor the official publication of the regulation and will prepare analytical materials and recommendations for association members on practical implications and adaptation timelines.