Where the law stands, Dossier 2023/0447(COD)
Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · First reading
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Published as law
Completed: published in the Official Journal on 10 August 2026 and now EU law.
- Referred to committee(done) 25 January 2024
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 3 June 2025
- Tabled for plenary(done) 10 June 2025
- Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 12 January 2026
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 28 April 2026
- Published as law(done) 10 August 2026
Decided in plenary
28 April 2026 · decision 2
Agriculture, food & fisheries, New EU law
Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability
Passed 558 for · 35 against · 52 abstained by an overwhelming majority
AI summary:The European Parliament adopted its position on a proposed EU law to improve the welfare of dogs and cats and ensure their traceability, covering breeding, selling, shelters, and imports.
19 June 2025 · decision 1
Agriculture, food & fisheries, New EU law
Welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability
Passed 457 for · 17 against · 86 abstained by an overwhelming majority
AI summary:The law would cover breeding, selling, and sheltering establishments, and would require identification and registration of animals.
What changed
Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:Expands the scope to cover all dogs and cats bred or kept in the Union, and extends identification to all pets. Tightens welfare rules: prohibits pet shops, restricts mutilations, adds breeding limits, and changes veterinary visits. Adds new obligations for the Commission: public shelter database, review of the regulation, and assessment of a pet species list. Adjusts market definitions and exemptions, and allows member states to use fines for shelters. Other changes are formal or wording: corrections, rephrasing, and updated citations.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The scope narrows: pet shops are no longer banned, but small breeders and foster homes are exempted, and agricultural holdings are excluded. Traceability rules tighten: identification deadlines shorten, registration after import is faster, and databases interconnect. Welfare rules expand: detailed feeding, housing, and health requirements are added, and mutilations are restricted further. Enforcement strengthens: breeding establishments need approval, penalties increase, and national campaigns are encouraged. The other changes are formal or wording: definitions clarified, cross-references updated, and typos fixed.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Agriculture and Rural Development
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Veronika Vrecionová (ECR)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Salvatore De Meo (EPP), Dario Nardella (S&D), Vilis Krištopans (Patriots), Michal Wiezik (Renew), Tilly Metz (Greens), Anja Hazekamp (The Left)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Environment, Climate and Food Safety· rapporteurManuela Ripa (EPP)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 28 Apr 2026
AI summary:Parliament's position on the proposed regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability, as agreed with the Council, corresponds to the final legislative act, Regulation (EU) 2026/1818.
Adopted by Parliament· 19 Jun 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability lays down rules for breeding, keeping, placing on the market and importing dogs and cats, including identification and registration requirements.
Tabled for plenary· 10 Jun 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability lays down minimum welfare requirements for breeding, selling and shelter establishments, and strengthens traceability through identification and registration.
Committee draft· 10 Jan 2025
AI summary:The draft report amends the Commission proposal for a regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability. It sets rules for breeding, keeping, placing on the market, and importing dogs and cats, including a ban on pet shops placing them on the market.
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (ENVI), Opinion (ENVI)
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 2 steps
10 August 2026
Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
17 June 2026
Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council
The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.
Plenary stage 2 steps
28 April 2026
Plenary vote
Sitting of 28 Apr 2026 Adopted text TA10-0115/2026Report A10-0104/2025
21 April 2026
2 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Negotiations with the Council 4 steps
12 January 2026
Committee approved the deal reached with the Council
The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.
25 November 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
15 July 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
19 June 2025
Parliament opened negotiations with the Council
After its vote Parliament sent the file back to committee, so that its negotiators can seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).
Plenary stage 3 steps
19 June 2025
Plenary vote
Sitting of 19 Jun 2025 Adopted text TA10-0135/2025Report A10-0104/2025
16 June – 17 June 2025
316 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Amendments 1–275Amendments 276–277Amendments 278–279Amendments 280–289Amendments 290–293Amendments 294–296Amendments 297–302Amendments 303–306Amendments 307–315Amendment 316
10 June 2025
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 6 steps
3 June 2025
Committee vote: report adopted
AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
8 April 2025
ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
10 February 2025
Amendments tabled in committee (2 batches)
Members of AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development) proposed changes to the draft.
Amendments in committee (AGRI)Amendments in committee (AGRI)
14 January 2025
Draft opinion from ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
10 January 2025
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
25 January 2024
Referred to the AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development) committee
The lead committee prepares the report; ENVI (Environment, Climate and Food Safety) gives an opinion.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2023/0447(COD)