The new EU rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats – Delivering effective implementation
📆 Wednesday 3rd June 2026, 08:00 – 09:30 CEST
📍Organised at the European Parliament, Brussels (MEP salon area)
Hosted by MEP Manuela Ripa
Following its Fitness Check on EU animal welfare legislation, the European Commission presented in December 2023 its Animal Welfare Package, including a proposal establishing EU rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats. In December 2025, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional political agreement on this landmark legislation. The Regulation is now expected to be formally adopted by the European Parliament in Spring 2026, marking a historic step forward for both animal welfare and the integrity of the EU internal market.
This is the first regulation of its kind at the EU level and includes: establishing minimum housing conditions and care requirements for dogs and cats kept in breeding establishments, pet shops, and shelters. Also, the traceability requirements: Strict traceability rules to combat illegal trafficking, including mandatory microchipping and registration in national databases. And online marketing regulations, regulations to ensure transparency and traceability in the online sale of dogs and cats.
As the EU moves towards the formal adoption and future implementation of this Regulation, it is essential to ensure that the new framework is effective, enforceable and workable in practice, while safeguarding a level playing field across the internal market for responsible actors in the pet sector.
Given the scale of pet ownership and the cross-border nature of the pet market, the new EU framework for the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats represents a major milestone. As a result, this event aims to address how the newly agreed EU rules on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats can be implemented in a way that ensures they are fit for purpose, effective and enforceable, while safeguarding a level playing field in the internal market. The event will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the adoption of this landmark legislation, bringing together EU policymakers, enforcement authorities and stakeholders to discuss the next steps for successful implementation, aiming at improving animal welfare, combating illegal trade, increasing consumer confidence, and supporting a fair and well-functioning internal market.
Draft agenda
08:00 – 08:10: Opening remarks by MEP Manuela Ripa
08:10 – 08:20: Intervention by Andrea Gavinelli, Head of G3 Unit for Animal Welfare, DG SANTE, European Commission (tbc)
08:20 – 08:25: Intervention by Svein A. Fosså, President, European Pet Organization (EPO) (tbc)
08:25 – 08:30: Intervention by Serge Laugier, Founding Owner, Cany Express (tbc)
08:30 – 08:35: Intervention by Nancy de Briyne, Executive Director, Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) (tbc)
08:35 – 08:40: Intervention by Marloes H. van der Goot, Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA) (tbc)
08:40 – 08:45: Intervention by Erik Lambrecht, Chairman of the Better Life for Pets and People (tbc)
08:45 – 08:50: Intervention by Georgia Diamantopoulou, Head of EU Policy, Four Paws (tbc)
08:50 – 09:20: Q&A session with the audience, including reactions from additional Members of the European Parliament:
o MEP Tilly Metz (tbc)
o MEP Salvatore de Meo (tbc)
o MEP Dario Nardella (tbc)
o MEP Nicola Minchev (tbc)
09:20 – 09:30: Closing remarks by MEP Manuela Ripa
