Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

17.6.2025 A10-0104/307

Amendment 307

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 3 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3 a) While several Member States have already introduced national Positive Lists to regulate the private ownership of animals, the absence of a unified EU framework of Union welfare provisions on breeding, keeping and placing on the market of pet animal species other than dogs and cats, as well as divergent national rules, leads to inconsistencies, gaps in enforcement, and confusion for consumers. It has often led to serious animal welfare consequences for those species that are unsuitable to be kept as pets, as well as risks to biodiversity, human health and safety and nature conservation;

Or. en

17.6.2025 A10-0104/308

Amendment 308

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 3 b (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3 b) There have been previous calls to establish a science-based Union-wide list of animals that have been assessed as being suitable to be kept as pets, under appropriate welfare conditions, without causing harm to populations in the wild, and therefore to European biodiversity, or to human health and safety. In doing so, it is essential to ensure an assessment of the impact on animals, including their welfare, behaviour, dietary needs, and veterinary care, in order to avoid situations that could cause unnecessary suffering, inappropriate living conditions, or endangerment of species.

Or. en

17.6.2025 A10-0104/309

Amendment 309

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 6 a (new)

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(6 a) This Regulation introduces mandatory registration, reinforced controls on online sales, and enhanced traceability of dogs and cats, with transition periods of up to 10 years in order to allow the relevant authorities to prepare. It further stresses the importance of Union-wide standards for responsible breeding to prevent detrimental health and welfare impacts on dogs and cats. This Regulation addresses these issues by establishing clear welfare requirements and ensuring that breeding practices uphold the highest standards.

Or. en

17.6.2025 A10-0104/310

Amendment 310

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 14

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(14) A large number of dogs and cats will be covered by detailed welfare rules for the first time, which will allow them to benefit from better living conditions. However, considering the practical difficulties in certain cases to determine whether dogs and cats are kept as pets or for placing on the market or supply, this Regulation should exempt from certain obligations pet owners who keep a number of dogs and cats and produce a number of litters below a certain threshold. Otherwise, those pet owners would be subject to the relevant requirements of this Regulation, which would not be proportionate.

(14) A large number of dogs and cats will be covered by detailed welfare rules for the first time, which will allow them to benefit from better living conditions. Considering the health risks associated with overcrowding, poor hygiene, and inadequate veterinary care, and the practical difficulties, in certain cases, to determine whether dogs and cats are kept as pets or for placing on the market or supply, this Regulation should not exempt from certain obligations pet owners who keep a number of dogs and cats and produce a number of litters below a certain threshold.

Or. en

17.6.2025 A10-0104/311

Amendment 311

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) the traceability of dogs and cats placed on the Union market or supplied in the Union.

(b) the traceability of dogs and cats bred or kept in the Union or placed on the Union market.

Or. en

17.6.2025 A10-0104/312

Amendment 312

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Article 2 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. This Regulation shall not apply to the breeding, keeping, placing on the market or supplying of dogs or cats intended for scientific purposes.

2. This Regulation shall not apply to the breeding, keeping, placing on the market or supplying of dogs or cats intended for scientific purposes or for clinical trials required for marketing authorisation to be granted in respect of human or veterinary medicinal products.

Or. en

17.6.2025 A10-0104/313

Amendment 313

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1) From ... [5 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], all dogs kept shall be individually identified in accordance with subparagraph 1.

From ... [10 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], all cats kept shall be individually identified in accordance with subparagraph 1.

Or. en

17.6.2025 A10-0104/314

Amendment 314

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. From [3 years from the date of entry into force], dogs and cats identified in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be registered by the veterinarian, or an assistant under the responsibility of the veterinarian, in a national database referred to in Article 19. For dogs and cats kept in breeding establishments, the registration shall be made in the name of the owner of the breeding establishment responsible for the dog or the cat. For dogs and cats kept in shelters , the registration shall be made in the name of the person responsible of the shelter. For natural persons intending to supply a dog or a cat in the Union, the registration shall be made in the name of that person. Any subsequent owner of, or responsible for, the dog or the cat, shall ensure that the change of ownership or responsibility is recorded in the database referred to in Article 19.

2. From [3 years from the date of entry into force], dogs and cats identified in accordance with paragraph 1 shall within 7 days from their identification, be registered by a veterinarian in a national database referred to in Article 19. Where possible, the national database shall include the lineage of dogs and cats for a minimum of five generations. For dogs or cats kept in breeding establishments, the registration shall be made in the name of the operator of the breeding establishment responsible for the dog or the cat. For dogs or cats kept in shelters, foster homes or pounds, the registration shall be made in the name of the person responsible of the establishment. For natural persons, the registration shall be made in the name of that person. For any other dogs or cats in the Union, the registration shall be made in the name of the responsible competent authority. In the event of transfer of ownership or responsibility, the natural or legal person placing the dog or cat on the market and any subsequent owner of, or responsible for, the dog or the cat, shall ensure that the change of ownership or responsibility is recorded in the database referred to in Article 19 within two weeks from the date of change of ownership or responsibility, in accordance with the national law of the Member State responsible for that database.

Or. en

17.6.2025 A10-0104/315

Amendment 315

Antonio Decaro

on behalf of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

Report A10-0104/2025

Veronika Vrecionová

Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability

(COM(2023)0769 – C9-0443/2023 – 2023/0447(COD))

Proposal for a regulation

Article 17 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

From [5 years from the date of entry into force], providers of online platforms shall ensure that their online interface is designed and organised in such a way that allows the suppliers of dogs and cats to comply with their obligations under paragraph 3, in line with Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, and shall inform acquirers, in a visible manner, of the possibility to verify the identification and registration of the animal through a weblink to the system referred to in paragraph 6.

From [5 years from the date of entry into force], providers of online platforms shall ensure that their online interface is designed and organised in such a way that allows natural or legal persons placing dogs and cats on the market to comply with their obligations under paragraph 3, in line with Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, and shall inform acquirers, in a visible manner and without imposing an administrative burden on them, of the identification and registration of the dog or cat. This information shall be verified through a weblink to the system referred to in paragraph 6. The sale shall be conditional upon a positive result from the automated check performed by the system referred to in paragraph 6.

Or. en