Brussels, 25 November 2025 – The Council of the EU and European Parliament have reached a landmark agreement centred on individual animal welfare and traceability, effectively shutting the door on illegal pet trade with the adoption of the Union’s first-ever regulation on dog and cat welfare. FOUR PAWS applauds in particular the introduction of essential safeguards including mandatory identification and registration (I&R) for all kept dogs and cats (with the exemption of farm cats), minimum welfare standards for all breeding establishments and the roll-out of an online verification system for all pets sold online, modelled on FOUR PAWS’ ‘Veripet’ system.

Mandatory I&R Swings the Door Wide Open for Welfare and Shuts It on Illegal Trade

Lawmakers have achieved a significant milestone by backing mandatory identification and registration for all kept dogs and cats, with the exemption of farm cats. This comprehensive traceability framework will allow animals to be tracked through official channels, facilitate tracing pets to their owners, and make it far more difficult for illegal breeders and sellers to operate unaccounted for and in the shadows! 

Exempting farm cats from the regulation’s traceability requirements, however, leaves millions of animals unaccounted for. This creates significant gaps and grey zones in determining ownership and who is responsible for these animals. Given cats’ rapid reproduction rates - and the fact that free-roaming cats ultimately originate from owned pets - extending oversight to rural areas is essential. Strengthening traceability in these regions would help close enforcement gaps, limit opportunities for illegal breeding, and support broader efforts to curb the illegal pet trade. 

Raising the Bar on Welfare Standards for All Breeders

The rollout of minimum welfare requirements for all breeders marks a significant step toward stronger regulation of the breeding sector. The new standards, covering proper nutrition, handling, veterinary care and protection from abuse, will apply to every breeder, from small-scale operations to large commercial facilities, ensuring better conditions for animals in a multi-million-euro industry that has long been overlooked.

Stopping Illegal Pet Sales at the Source

Robust measures will be introduced to regulate online sales . Under the mandatory registration-verification system foreseen, an animal's due registration to the seller must be confirmed before any animal advertisement can go live, ensuring the advertised animals are reliably linked to those offering them. Currently, 79% of dogs come from unknown sources because no verification exists. This new upfront check will block illegal sellers and puppy mills, significantly reducing the online trafficking of pets.

From Policy to Practice

Enforcement is key. The core purpose of this regulation is now locked in: to bring full traceability to animals and breeders and ultimately shut down the illegal pet trade.