By the Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs (LAGECDogs)

At the end of November 2025, the European Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement to adopt Regulations proposed in 2023 establishing minimum EU-wide standards for the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats.[1] The Regulations address the trade in companion animals, a prosperous sector, but one plagued by ongoing illegal trade and transport both within and outside the EU.[2] Until now, there has been a striking lack of EU legislation specifically focused on the welfare of cats and dogs, a gap these new rules take important steps toward closing.

The Regulations aim to create a level playing field across Member States by setting common animal welfare requirements for dogs and cats, improving traceability and strengthening consumer protection. The framework establishes minimum standards, while allowing Member States the freedom to impose stricter rules if wanted.

Of particular relevance are the provisions relating to improved breeding practices and education on dog and cat welfare. As part of unified efforts to ensure breeding practices that meet a minimum welfare standard, the Regulations include a series of important actions: 

1. the introduction of mandatory inspections and approvals for larger breeding establishments. 
2. A public registry of approved breeders to enhance transparency 
3. the introduction of minimum breeding ages, limits on reproductive frequency, and mandatory veterinary checks should help to reduce the frequency and suffering from health and behavioural problems in dogs and cats. 

These measures also aim to protect breeders who invest in high welfare standards against unfair competition from those who  operate to lower welfare standards, at the animals’ expense.

It is particularly welcome to see the Regulations addressing extreme conformation and inbreeding in dogs and cats. Article 6 states: 

“Operators of breeding establishments shall ensure that breeding strategies do not result in genotypes and phenotypes that have detrimental effects on the welfare of the dogs and cats, or of their descendants. In the management of the reproduction of dogs and cats by operators, the mating between parents and offspring, or between grandparents and grandchildren, shall be prohibited.’’

That said, the Regulations, as drafted, are not without concerns. Specifically in relation to brachycephaly which has a large evidence base on serious health and welfare harms,[3] Article 6 continues by saying that: ‘This paragraph shall not preclude the selection and breeding of brachycephalic dogs and cats provided that the selection or breeding programmes minimise the negative welfare consequences of brachycephalic traits.”[4] In practice, this means breeders may continue to breed brachycephalic dogs and cats as long as they attempt to mitigate associated health problems through active and informed choice of parent animals  that avoids ‘detrimental effects on the welfare’ of those parent animals or their offspring. Enforcement of the Regulations in respect of extreme conformation will require robust oversight if it is not to risk undermining the provision’s objective of reducing the suffering caused by brachycephaly. 

Significantly, the requirements of the Regulations will not cover all breeders.  Small-scale breeders (up to three bitches or queens producing two litters or fewer, in total, per year) are exempt from the breeding and housing requirements to ensure proportionality, though they must still identify and register animals before sale.[5] 

 Additionally, in proposed Annex I(2),[6] which provides requirements for housing, including specified temperature ranges, there is a note requiring adjustments for brachycephalic animals and those with extreme coat types, but no detailed ranges or adaptation standards are provided, which leaves a troubling lack of clarity. 

Ultimately, this legislation marks a positive step for animal welfare. The next step is for the Parliament and Council to vote on the final text in Spring 2026 and it’s expected the Regulation will enter into force in Summer 2026. The Regulation will contain transition periods and some rules will not apply until the 2030s. The impact of the Regulations will therefore be unclear for some time.

References

[1]  Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability, COM(2023) 769 final 2023/0447(COD). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2023:769:FIN

[2]  Claudia Vinci, At a Glance: Welfare and traceability of dogs and cats PE 772.917 (European Parliamentary Research Service, 2005).

[3]  Packer, R.M.A. and O’Neill, D.G. eds. (2021) Health and welfare of brachycephalic (flat-faced) companion animals: a complete guide for veterinary and animal professionals, 1st ed., Boca Raton: CRC Press.

[4]  Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability, COM(2023) 769 final 2023/0447(COD), Article 6.

[5]  Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the welfare of dogs and cats and their traceability, COM(2023) 769 final 2023/0447(COD), Article 4

[6]  Ibid, Annex I(2).

The Legal Advisory Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs (LAGECDogs) is a multi-disciplinary research group affiliated with A-LAW that is dedicated to ensuring the law can effectively address conformation-related issues in dogs. Our primary focus is on dogs with brachycephalic conformation, but our work covers all dogs who might suffer due to their conformation.