Changes from plenary report to adopted text

Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point b: (b) the interoperability between Member States databases and the index database;

Article 19 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point f a (new): (fa) The interconnection between the Member States databases referred to in paragraph 1 and any other relevant database, including the Information Management System for Official Controls (IMSOC).

Article 20 a (new): Article 20a / National information campaigns concerning stray animal legislation and protection / 1. The Member States are encouraged, in collaboration with the competent authorities, to initiate and implement national information campaigns concerning existing legislation on the protection and welfare of dogs and cats. These campaigns should be targeted at both animal owners and the general public in order to raise awareness of legal obligations and good practices in relation to animal care. / 2. Information campaigns can be run by the competent authorities in collaboration with animal protection organisations, veterinarians and other relevant entities. The information provided must include: / (a) The legal obligations of pet owners; / (b) The responsibilities and actions of local authorities in managing stray animals, and actions to prevent abandonment; / (c) Recommended steps if a person finds a lost or abandoned animal, including contacting veterinary services, animal shelters or the local police; / (d) The importance of responsible adoption and neutering to reduce the population of stray animals. / 3. The Member States can provide national or regional funding for these campaigns and can encourage the mass media and educational institutions to participate with a view to better dissemination of information. / 4. The European Commission shall encourage the sharing of good practices between the Member States.

Article 20 b (new): Article 20b / Measures to prevent abandonment and promote the neutering of dogs and cats / 1. The Member States are encouraged, in collaboration with the competent authorities, to adopt concrete measures to prevent abandonment of dogs and cats, including by educating the public, making owners responsible and enforcing existing legislation effectively. / 2. To reduce the number of stray animals, the Member States are encouraged to identify and use national and private financing sources for: / (a) Free or subsidised neutering campaigns for stray dogs and cats and pets of persons on low incomes or animal protection organisations; / (b) Programmes to register and identify pets, including by microchipping, to facilitate adoption and the return of lost animals to owners and to prevent abandonment; / (c) Actions to raise awareness and educate the public with regard to the responsibility of owning a pet and the adverse effects of abandonment on animal welfare and the community. / 3. The Member States can work together with non-governmental organisations, veterinary clinics and local authorities to implement these measures and facilitate public access to neutering and identification programmes.

Article 20 c (new): Article 20c / Data protection / 1. The competent authorities of the Member States shall be controllers within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 in relation to the processing of personal data collected under Article 7, Article 7a and Article 19(1) of this Regulation. / The Commission shall be a controller within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 in relation to the processing of personal data collected under Article 17(6) and the second subparagraph of Article 21(4) of this Regulation. / It shall be prohibited for any person having access to the personal data referred to in the first and second sub-paragraphs to divulge any personal data, the knowledge of which was acquired in the exercise of their duties or otherwise incidentally to such exercise. Member States and the Commission shall take all appropriate measures to address infringements of that prohibition. / The personal data collected under the first and second sub-paragraphs shall not be used for other purposes than official control of the compliance with the welfare and traceability requirements under this regulation and detection of fraudulent practices with a view to the adoption of control measures. / 2. That personal data referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be retained for the following periods: / (a) in the case of Article 7 and Article 7a, 10 years after the date of cessation of the activity of the establishment; / (b) in the case of Article 19(1), 20 years after the first registration of…

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: 1. Dogs and cats may only be entered into the Union for placing on the market provided that the following conditions are met:

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – point a: (a) they have been breed and kept in compliance with any of the following:

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i (new): (i) Chapter II of this Regulation;

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – point b: (ii) conditions recognised by the Union in accordance with Article 129 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 to be equivalent to those set out by Chapter II of this Regulation; or

Article 21 – paragraph 1 – point c: (iii) where applicable, requirements contained in a specific agreement between the Union and the exporting country.

Article 21 – paragraph 2: (b) they come from a third country or territory and an establishment listed in accordance with Articles 126 and 127 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

Article 21 – paragraph 3: 2. The official certificate referred to in Article 126(2)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 accompanying dogs and cats entering into the Union from third countries and territories to be placed on the Union market, shall contain an attestation certifying compliance with paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 21 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1: 3. Without prejudice to Article 10(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 and Article 74(1) of Regulation (EU) 2020/69211 , dogs and cats entering into the Union to be placed on the Union market, shall be identified before their entry by a veterinarian with a microchip. compliant with Annex II . The importer shall ensure the registration of dogs and cats by a veterinarian into a national database, referred to in Article 19 within two working days after their entry into the Union. Member States may allow the registration by other persons than veterinarians, provided that they have measures in place to ensure the accuracy of information inserted in the database.

Article 21 – paragraph 4 a (new): 4a. The entry of dogs and cats into the Union under a non-commercial movement, as defined in point 14 of Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, shall be pre-notified by their owners into an online Union pet travellers’ database at least five working days before the crossing of the Union border, except in the following cases: / (a) dogs or cats entering into the Union directly from third countries listed in accordance with Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013; / (b) dogs or cats registered in a Member State database referred to in Article 19(1). The owner shall pre-notify the identity of the dog or cat and where relevant the identity of the authorised person travelling with that dog or cat, the identification number of the microchip of the dog or cat, its main destination in the Union, and where relevant the planned date and place of exit from the Union. Where the dog or cat stays more than four months in the Union, the owner shall ensure its registration in the database of the Member State of residence within five working days after the expiry of that fourth month. / The Commission shall establish and maintain the Union pet travellers’ database referred to in the second subparagraph, and may entrust the development, maintenance and operation of this database to an independent entity, following a public selection process, pursuant to the relevant provisions of Title VII of the Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046. Access to this database shall be restricted to Member Sta…

Article 21 – paragraph 5: deleted

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 23 amending the Annexes to this Regulation to take into account of scientific and technical progress, including, when relevant, scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority, and of social, economic, and environmental impacts, as regards:

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point a: (a) watering and feeding requirements and weaning process;

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point h: (h) minimum and maximum age of bitches and queens for breeding;

Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point j: (j) requirements for transponders used to individually identify dogs and cats;

Article 23 – paragraph 2: 2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 6(2b), Article 6a(3) and Article 22 shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from [the date of entry into force of this Regulation].

Article 23 – paragraph 3: 3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 6(2b), Article 6a(3) and Article 22 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

Article 23 – paragraph 6: 6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 6(2b), Article 6a(3) and Article 22 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 25 – paragraph 2: deleted / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted)

Article 25 – paragraph 3: deleted

Article 25 – paragraph 4: 4. Member States that have stricter national rules referred to in paragraph 1 shall not prohibit or impede the placing on the market within their territory of dogs and cats kept in another Member State on the grounds that the dogs and cats concerned have not been kept in accordance with its stricter national rules on animal welfare.

Article 26 – paragraph 1: 1. On the basis of the reports received in accordance with Article 20 and additional relevant information, the Commission shall publish, by [7 years after the date of entry into force of this Regulation] and thereafter every 5 years, a monitoring report on the welfare of dogs and cats placed on the market in the Union. The monitoring report shall assess the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence, socio-economic impact and EU added value of this Regulation in achieving its objectives. In particular, the Commission shall assess:

Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point a (new): (a) the extent to which this Regulation has contributed to ensuring a high level of welfare for dogs and cats, improving traceability, reducing illegal trade, and addressing the problems associated with inhumane breeding practices, including so-called puppy and kitten mills;

Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point d (new): (d) the impact of this Regulation on breeders, shelters, foster homes, and other operators, including the administrative burden and compliance costs;

Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point e (new): (e) the level of enforcement and compliance achieved by Member States, and the effectiveness of the cooperation between competent authorities, including data exchange and traceability mechanisms,

Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point f (new): (f) the feasibility, costs and benefits of introducing a digital passport for dogs and cats which could contain information on the identification, vaccination status and medical history of the animal.

Article 26 – paragraph 1 – point g (new): (g) the feasibility, impact and proportionality of extending mandatory identification and registration to all dogs and cats, including those kept by private owners,

Article 28 – paragraph 2: It shall apply from [2 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation], except: / (i) Article 13 from 5 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation; / (ii) Article 9(2) and Article 19(1) from 3 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation; / (iii) Article 12, Article 17(4) and (6), Article 19(2) and (2a), and Article 21(1) to (4a) from 5 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation; / (iv) Article 7a from 6 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation; and / (v) Article 17(1) to (3) - in relation to dogs from 3 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation - in relation to cats 7 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation..

Annex I – point 1 – introductory part: 1. Feeding and watering

Annex I – point 1 – point 1.1 – introductory part: 1.1. Dogs and cats shall be fed at least twice per day. Puppies and kittens shall be fed more frequently. / These requirements shall not apply to breeding establishments where livestock guardian dogs are kept during the periods when such dogs are used for herding purposes.

Annex I – point 1 – point 1.1 – point a: deleted

Annex I – point 1 – point 1.1 – point c: deleted

Annex I – point 1 – point 1.1 – point d: deleted

Annex I – point 1 – point 1.2: 1.2. Each puppy or kitten shall be fed with colostrum during at least the first two days of its life and thereafter with milk from its mother or a lactating bitch or queen. If this is not possible, because is ill or is otherwise unable to feed her offspring or not sufficient, the puppy or kitten shall be fed with a milk replacer designed for puppies and kittens with such feeding frequency as instructed by the producer of the replacer or by a veterinarian.

Annex I – point 1 – point 1.3: deleted

Annex I – point 1 – point 1.4: 1.4. All unweaned puppies and kittens shall be fed enough milk, milk replacer or a combination thereof to steadily gain bodyweight.

Annex I – point 2 – point 2.1 – paragraph 1 – point a: deleted

Annex I – point 2 – point 2.1 – paragraph 1 – point b: deleted

Annex I – point 2 – point 2.2 – point 2.2.1: 2.2.1. Dogs and cats shall be exposed to light for at least 7 hours per day.

Annex I – point 2 – point 2.2 – point 2.2.2: 2.2.2. Artificial light shall be broad spectrum or full spectrum with a frequency of at least 80 Hertz.

Annex I – point 2 – point 2.2 – point 2.2.3: deleted