08 Apr. Broad majority for animal welfare in Europe! Vote on my report on the welfare of dogs and cats.

We have come a giant step closer to animal welfare in Europe! The EU Parliament's Environment Committee today adopted my report on the "Welfare of dogs and cats" with 67 votes in favor, 9 against and 8 abstentions. That is an overwhelming majority. For the first time ever, the European Parliament has voted for uniform protection standards for dogs and cats! We want to combat the illegal puppy trade and ensure that dogs and cats are kept in good conditions. As the committee's rapporteur, I have spent the last few months working intensively on drafting the text and negotiating at length with the other political groups.

We have significantly improved the EU Commission's draft law of 2023 with our text. Now it is a matter of defending the proposals in Parliament's Agriculture Committee and then in plenary!

The key points:

- We have agreed that all dogs and cats in the EU will be identified and registered. Chipping dogs and cats is essential to combat illegal trade, relieve the burden on animal shelters and local authorities and return found animals to their owners more quickly. Initially, all dogs and cats placed on the market in the EU are to be chipped. In a second phase, the requirement will apply generally to cats and dogs in private households.

- In future, all breeders in the EU will have to register and adhere to animal welfare standards. Simplified rules apply to small breeders, for example with regard to their approval. We are clearly against cruel breeding. We must put an end to animals being bred in such a way that they suffer throughout their lives!

- Animal shelters throughout Europe must also comply with animal welfare regulations, but here too there are simplifications for small animal shelters. Above all, however, we plead in the report for more support for animal shelters, especially financial support, for example for neutering strays. The public sector and administrative authorities must ensure that animal shelters can carry out their valuable work.

- The sale of cats and dogs in pet shops will be banned once and for all. Already today, 12 EU countries have corresponding regulations because such sales are often not carried out in an appropriate manner.

- The regulations for online trading are also to be tightened. Buyers are to be given more opportunities to check the origin of their animal and identify the previous owner. This is a very important measure, especially to restrict the illegal puppy trade. At the moment, for example, 80% of all dogs sold online are of unknown origin! In addition, buyers should be better informed about the correct handling and keeping of the animal.

- Finally, we have also sent out a clear signal against the wild animal trade. There have long been discussions in the EU about only allowing animals on a special list of suitable species as pets. We call on the EU Commission to draw up such a list following a successful impact assessment so that it is clear which wild animals may be kept as pets in the EU.

I very much hope that the lead Committee on Agriculture in the European Parliament will take up this strong report for more animal welfare and consumer protection, better protection for local authorities and animal shelters and against the illegal trade in dogs and cats, and that we will soon adopt a strong parliamentary position.