BRUSSELS – Today, along with the much-awaited proposal on live animal transport, the European Commission published an additional proposal for a regulation on pets. 

After extensive work on this long-standing problem, FOUR PAWS welcomes this move. 

The new proposed regulation is set to tackle the serious problems associated with the illegal pet trade which has sky-rocketed in the last three years.  

While FOUR PAWS has been investigating the online pet trade for decades, in July 2022 the European Commission launched an EU Coordinated Control Plan on the Illegal Movement of pets.  

Its report, published today, shows that the pet market is rife with illegal breeders operating within organised criminal networks. In addition to the serious animal welfare issues observed, the report showcases the internal market distortions and health risks brought by the trade.  

Disguised as non-commercial pet movement, animals are continuously traded into the EU and sold illegally with no taxes being paid. This amounts to a significant amount of tax revenue lost for Member States especially considering that across only three advertising platforms, 2.4 million dogs are traded annually in the EU and the trade of these platforms alone is worth over €1.5 billion. 

Only two months ago, the latest Eurobarometer on animal welfare showed that 74% of EU citizens believe that the welfare of companion animals in their country should be better protected than it is now. 

ENDS 

BACKROUND 

The proposed regulation is set to tackle the illegal pet trade by introducing mandatory identification and registration rules with database interoperability, as well as regulation of breeding activities (size of enclosures, enrichment and time with mothers). It also includes measures for the regulation of online trade, to address the anonymity of online sellers. 

In our new report, results from investigations carried out by FOUR PAWS show that this cruel trade is thriving, crossing borders and breaking laws. The trade abuses animals, using cruel breeding practices and creating unhealthy puppies, and causes great emotional and financial burden for people too. While our report covers four countries, we believe it is representative of the situation across Europe and the EU. 

Find the FOUR PAWS ‘Puppy Scammers’ report here.