Filenews 10 October 2025 - by Petros Afxentiou
In the coming months, the member states of the European Union are called upon to implement a pan-European framework for the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats.
On 19 June 2025, the European Parliament adopted at first reading measures providing for strict rules on animal rearing, housing and handling, as well as universal microchipping, with the aim of enhancing traceability and fighting illegal trade.
The EU initiative aims to ensure greater transparency for consumers and fair competition for breeders, sellers and shelters, without burdening existing animal owners.
The changes under discussion in the EU
In particular, the changes being discussed in the EU concern the setting of minimum welfare standards for facilities such as spaces, lighting, ventilation, access to water/food, socialization, breeding rules and restrictions on painful practices. Also, the facilities should be inspected regularly, with an annual veterinary visit and record-keeping.
In terms of identification and registries, every dog and cat must be microchipped and nationally registered before being placed on the market. The databases will become interoperable across the EU to easily trace origins and transfers from all EU countries.
In addition, there are also changes in online ads, as it is expected that a free European identification/registration verification system will be set up, so that the interested party can check that the animal is legally registered before buying or adopting. The details will be determined by implementing acts.
In addition, the rules on imports from third countries are strengthened so that only animals from equivalent welfare conditions and have microchips enter the EU market.
With the adoption of the Regulation, Cyprus should:
Create a single national register for dogs and cats, linked to the European one, and implement compulsory registration procedures.
Designate the Veterinary Services as the competent authority for both species, undertaking inspections, facility licensing and annual veterinary inspections.
Establish penalties that are "effective, proportionate and dissuasive", as well as clear rules for online classifieds.
To amend relevant legislation, such as the law "On the Protection and Welfare of Animals" and the "On Dogs" law.
"Cyprus is unprepared..."
Despite the fact that the regulations have been discussed for a long time within the EU, however, Cyprus has not made any preparations to be able to implement the Regulation.
The President of the Environment Committee, Charalambos Theopemptou, spoke to Filenews, who stated that the Republic of Cyprus appears unprepared to implement this framework.
As he explained, it cannot be applied as a marking must be placed on cats, while we do not know who owns a cat. "In Cyprus we have a million cats."
In addition, he mentioned that the marking for dogs has been since 2002, while at the same time most dogs do not have the necessary marking. He stressed that now the Republic of Cyprus will be obliged by regulation. "The regulation does not need to pass through the Parliament to be introduced into our legislation. It is applied automatically."
He stressed that minimum standards are established for kennels, animal shops and shelters, for which we already have Regulations that are not applied.
"The Government has known this since 2022"
Mr. Theopemptou clarified that what is being discussed are the provisions that the regulation now has. He added that it has yet to be voted on by the European Parliament. "We do not yet know what the final text will include."
He pointed out that the Government has been aware of this since 2022. "He has 3 years. They can't come now and wonder what it is that was voted on."
He pointed out that the other countries are aware of this and are preparing. "It will probably be voted on at the end of the year," he said.
It is emphasized that the process is still ongoing, however the preparation is extensive. The government, municipalities, shops and breeders should consider possible legislative regulations and changes, organize their records, improve their facilities and provide for the interconnection with the future national register and the corresponding European system.
