Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

AddedArticle 3 – paragraph 1 – point 26: 26. ‘tethering’ means the tying of an animal to an anchor point or object to keep it in a desired area or to restrict its movement;

Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point 27: 27. ‘container’ means any cage, crate, box, receptacle or movable structure used to confine dogs or cats;

Change 26

RemovedChapter I a (new): CHAPTER Ia (new) / PROHIBITION APPLICABLE TO PET SHOPS / Article 3a (new) / Prohibition applicable to pet shops / The placing on the Union market of dogs and cats by pet shops shall be prohibited.

AddedArticle 3 – paragraph 1 – point 28: deleted

RemovedArticle 4 – paragraph 1: 1. A breeding establishment where at most two litters per calendar year are produced for placing on the market shall only be subject to the obligations laid down in Article 5, Article 6(1), (1a) and (1b), Article 6a, Article 7, Article 8, Article 11(2), (3) and (4), Article 12(3), (4) and (7), Article 13(2), points (b), (ba) and (d), Article 14(2), (3), (4) and (6), Article 15 and Article 15a(1). / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted)

AddedArticle 3 – paragraph 1 – point 29: 29. ‘responsible ownership’ means the commitment of a dog or cat owner or future dog or cat owner, to perform various duties focused on the satisfaction of the health, behavioural, environmental and physical needs of the dog or cat, and to minimize risks that the dog or cat may pose to the community, other animals or the environment.

RemovedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 a (new): 2. A shelter, where a total of up to 15 dogs or cats are kept at any given time, or any foster home, shall only be subject to the obligations laid down in Article 5, Article 6(1), (1a) and (1b), Article 7, Article 8(1), Article 11(2), (3) and (4), Article 12(3), (4) and (7), Article 13(2), points (b), (ba) and (d), Article 14(2), (3), (4) and (6), and Article 15.

AddedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: With the exception of the provisions laid down in Article 5 this chapter shall not apply to:

AddedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 – indent 1: – breeding establishments keeping up to four bitches and producing in total three litters or less per establishment and calendar year;

AddedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 – indent 2: deleted

AddedArticle 4 – paragraph 1 – indent 3 a (new): – foster homes keeping at any given time five dogs or less or ten cats or less.

Article 5 – title: General welfare principles

Change 27

ChangedArticle 5 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: Operators and animal caretakers shall apply the following welfare principles with respect to dogs or cats bred or kept in their establishment:

Change 28

ChangedArticle 5 – paragraph 1 – point b:a: (b)(a) dogs and cats are kept in a goodprovided physicalwith environmentwater whichand isfeed comfortable,of especiallya inquality termsand of space,a temperature,quantity light,that protectionenables againstthem adverseto climatichave conditionsgood and easeappropriate ofnutrition movement.and hydration.

Change 29

AddedArticle 5 – paragraph 1 – point b: (b) dogs and cats are kept in an appropriate and clean physical environment which is secure and comfortable, especially in terms of space, air quality, temperature, light, protection against adverse climatic conditions and ease of movement, preventing overcrowding.

AddedArticle 5 – paragraph 1 – point c: (c) dogs and cats are kept safe, clean and in good health by preventing diseases, functional impairments, injuries, and pain, due in particular to management, handling practices, breeding practices or mutilations.

AddedArticle 5 – paragraph 1 – point e: (e) dogs and cats are kept in such a way as to optimise their mental state by preventing or reducing their negative experiences in duration and intensity, as well as by maximizing opportunities for positive experiences in duration and intensity, preventing the development of abnormal repetitive and other behaviours indicative of negative animal welfare, and taking into consideration the individual dog's or cat's needs in the different domains referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d).

Article 6 – title: General welfare obligations

Change 30

ChangedArticle 6 – paragraph 1: 1. Operators and animal caretakers shall be responsible for the welfare of dogs or cats kept in their establishments and under their control and forto minimisingminimise any risks to their welfare. / In the case of foster homes, the responsibility shall lie with the operator on whose behalf dogs or cats are kept. Such operators shall provide the foster family with adequate information on the animal welfare requirements and obligations as well as the individual needs of the dogs or cats, and shall ensure and verify that the relevant obligations set out by this Regulation are complied with in foster homes.

Change 31

RemovedArticle 6 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new): In the case of foster homes, the responsibility shall lie with the operator on whose behalf dogs or cats are kept.

Article 6 – paragraph 1 a (new): 1a. Operators shall not subject any dog or cat to cruelty, abuse or mistreatment, nor shall they breed, train or medicate them to participate in activities resulting in cruelty, abuse or mistreatment to themselves or to other dogs and cats, including dog fighting.

Change 32

ChangedArticle 6 – paragraph 1 b (new): 1b. Operators and animal caretakers shall not abandon dogs or cats.

Article 6 – paragraph 2: 2. Operators shall ensure that dogs and cats are handled by a suitable number of animal caretakers to meet the welfare needs of dogs or cats kept in their establishments.

Change 33

RemovedArticle 6 – paragraph 2 a (new): 2a. Operators shall ensure the welfare of the dogs and cats kept in their establishment by monitoring animal-based indicators referred to in paragraph 2b, and by taking appropriate action based on the results of that monitoring

AddedArticle 6 – paragraph 3: deleted / (deleted) / (deleted)

RemovedArticle 6 – paragraph 2 b (new): 2b. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 23 supplementing this Regulation by laying animal-based indicators.

RemovedArticle 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1: deleted

RemovedArticle 6 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2: deleted

Article 6 – paragraph 4: deleted

Change 34

ChangedArticle 6 a (new): Article 6a / Breeding strategies obligations / 1. Operators of breeding establishments shall ensure that their breeding strategies prioritise the health and welfare of the animal, and minimise the risk of producing dogs or cats with genotypes or phenotypes associated with detrimental effects on their welfare.welfare / 2. Operators of breeding establishments shall not use for reproduction dogs or cats that have excessive conformational traits leading to a high risk of detrimental effects on the welfare of these dogs or cats, or of their offspring. / 3. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 23 supplementing this Regulation by laying down the characteristics of the genotypes and phenotypes referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, and the excessive conformational traits referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, which shall be excluded from reproduction, taking into account scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority as well as social and economic impacts. The delegated acts concerning the excessive conformational traits shall be adopted by 1 July 2030. / 4. Unless approved by the competent authority based on a specific need to preserve local breeds with a limited genetic pool, the following shall be prohibited in the management of the reproduction of dogs and cats: / (a) the breeding between parents and offspring, between siblings, between halfsiblings or between grandparents and grandchildren;grandchildren andshall /be (b)prohibited in the breedingmanagement toof producethe hybrids.reproduction of dogs and cats.

Article 7 – title: Notification and registration of establishments

Change 35

ChangedArticle 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: Operators shall notify to the competent authorities of their activity, providing at least the following information:

Change 36

ChangedArticle 7 – paragraph 1 – point c: (c) the type of establishment: breeding establishment, selling establishment,establishment shelter or foster home;

Change 37

ChangedArticle 7 – paragraph 1 – point e: (e) the capacity of the establishment expressed as the maximum number of dogs and cats which can be kept in the establishment;establishment.

Change 38

RemovedArticle 7 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new): (ea) for breeding establishments, the estimated number of litters to be placed on the market per year.

AddedArticle 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new): Operators shall notify the competent authority of: / (a) any changes concerning the information referred to in paragraph 1; / (b) any cessation of activity and also specifying a deadline by which the activity must be closed, which should be no later than one month after the cessation, and also providing information on the fate of the animals; / Without prejudice to any additional information required under this Article, operators are not required to notify again the information already submitted in accordance with point (b) of Article 84(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. / The competent authority shall maintain a register of establishments and may use for this purpose the register provided for in point (a) of Article 101(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.

Change 39

ChangedArticle 7 –a paragraph(new): 1Article a,7a 1b/ andApproval 1cof (new):breeding 1a.establishments / 1. Operators of breeding establishments shall notifyonly theplace competentdogs authorityor of:cats /on (a)the anymarket changesafter concerningapproval theof informationtheir referredestablishment toby inthe paragraphcompetent 1;authority. / (b)2. anyThe cessationcompetent ofauthority activityshall /perform 1b.on-site Memberinspections Statesto mayverify usethat the informationestablishment providedmeets forthe inrequirements accordanceof withthis ArticleRegulation. 84Member ofStates Regulationmay (EU)allow 2016/429.such Ininspections suchto abe casecarried out remotely provided that the operatorsmeans areof exemptdistance fromcommunication theused obligationprovide providedsufficient forevidence infor paragraphthe 1competent ofauthority thisto Article.perform /reliable 1c.inspections. The competent authority shall maintainonly grant a registercertificate of establishmentsapproval andto maya usebreeding forestablishment thisthat purposemeets the registerrequirements providedof forthis inRegulation. point/ (a)3. ofThe Articlecompetent 101(1)authorities shall maintain a list of Regulationthe (EU)approved 2016/429.breeding establishments and make it publicly available.

Change 40

RemovedArticle 7 a (new): Article 7a / Approval of breeding establishments / 1. Operators of breeding establishments that either produce or intend to produce more than five litters per calendar year or that keep more than five bitches or queens at any given time shall only place dogs or cats on the market after approval of their establishment by the competent authority. / 2. The competent authority shall perform on-site inspections to verify that the establishment meets the requirements of this Regulation. Member States may allow such inspections to be carried out remotely provided that the means of distance communication used provide sufficient evidence for the competent authority to perform reliable inspections. The competent authority shall only grant a certificate of approval to a breeding establishment that meets the requirements of this Regulation. / 3. The competent authorities shall maintain a list of the approved breeding establishments and make it publicly available

AddedArticle 8 – paragraph 1: 1. Operators shall provide to the acquirer of a dog or cat written information necessary to enable him or her to ensure the welfare of the dog or cat including information on responsible ownership and on the specific needs of the dog or cat in terms of feeding, caring, health, housing and behavioural needs, as well as information on its health, including vaccination status.

RemovedArticle 8 – paragraph 1: 1. Operators shall provide to the acquirer of a dog or a cat written information to enable him or her to ensure the welfare of the dog or cat, including information on responsible ownership and on the specific needs of the dog or cat in terms of feeding, caring, health, housing and behavioural needs, as well as information on its health, including vaccination status.

AddedArticle 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1: 2. When operators and the natural or legal persons advertise the placing on the market of dogs and cats, via online platforms at least the following warning shall be displayed, in clearly visible and bold characters:

RemovedArticle 8 – paragraph 2: 2. When operators advertise the placing on the market of dogs and cats, at least the following warning shall be displayed, in clearly visible and bold characters:

AddedArticle 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2: “As an animal owner, you are obliged to ensure that its health and well-being needs are met at all times. Taking care of an animal required financial resources. Abandonment of pets goes against responsible care.” Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as imposing a general monitoring obligation on the provider of the online platform within the meaning of Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065.“

RemovedArticle 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 a (new): If advertising via online platforms, the providers of online platforms shall ensure that their online interface is designed and organised in such a way to facilitate the displaying of the warning by the operators.

AddedArticle 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: 1. Animal caretakers, with the exception of supervised volunteers and interns, shall have the following competences as regards the dogs and cats they are handling:

RemovedArticle 8 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 b (new): Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as imposing a general monitoring obligation on the provider of the online platform within the meaning of Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065.

AddedArticle 9 – paragraph 1 – point b: (b) ability to recognise their expressions including any sign of suffering and to identify and take the appropriate mitigating measures to be taken in such cases;

AddedArticle 9 – paragraph 1 – point c: (c) ability to apply good animal management practices, to use and maintain the equipment used for the species under their care and to minimize any risks to the welfare of the animals, preventing suffering;

Article 10 – title: Advisory welfare visits

Article 10 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: 1. Operators shall:

Change 41

ChangedArticle 10 – paragraph 1 – point a: (a) ensure that the establishments under their responsibility receive a visit by a veterinarian by ... [one year after the date of application of this Regulation]Regulation or within the first year of the notification of a new establishment, for the purpose of identifying and assessing any risk factor for the welfare of the dogs orand cats and advising the operator on measures to address any risk factor for animal welfare;welfare and to follow up on actions taken by the operator in response to recommendations made by visiting veterinarian; thereafter the visits from a veterinarian shall take place when appropriate, based on a risk analysis by the competent authorities; Member States may provide for that the advisory welfare visits are annual;

Change 42

ChangedArticle 10 – paragraph 1 – point b: (b) keep the records of the findings of the visit of the veterinarian referred to in point (a) and of their follow up actions and keep those records for at least 5 years, from the day of the visit, and shall make them available to the competent authorities and visiting veterinarian upon request.

Change 43

ChangedArticle 10 – paragraph 2: 2. TheBy [24 months from the date of entry into force of this Regulation] the Commission shallis empowered to adopt implementingdelegated acts in accordance with Article 23 supplementing this Article to lay down minimum criteria to identify and assess the risk factors by the veterinarian during the advisory welfare visits. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referredvisits, toincluding inon Articlefollow-up 24.actions.

Change 44

ChangedArticle 11 – paragraph 1: 1. Operators shall ensure that dogs andor cats are fed in accordance with the requirements laid down in point 1 of Annex I.

Change 45

RemovedArticle 11 – paragraph 3 a (new): 3a. Where advised in writing by a veterinarian to do so, the operators may adjust the feeding and watering requirements. The operators shall keep a record of the advice for its entire duration as advised by the veterinarian.

AddedArticle 11 – paragraph 2 – introductory part: 2. Operators shall ensure that dogs or cats are adequately fed and hydrated by supplying:

AddedArticle 11 – paragraph 2 – point a: (a) clean and fresh water, ad libitum;

AddedArticle 11 – paragraph 2 – point b: (b) feed in sufficient quantity and quality to meet the physiological, nutritional and metabolic needs and satiety of the dogs and cats, as part of a diet adapted to the age, breed, category, activity level, and health status of the dogs and cats or cats, with the overall objective of achieving and maintaining good health;

AddedArticle 11 – paragraph 3 – introductory part: 3. Operators and caretakers shall ensure that feeding and drinking facilities are kept clean and constructed and installed in such a way as to:

AddedArticle 11 – paragraph 3 – point a: (a) provide equal access to all dogs and cats;