Pet sellers and breeders to be registered by 2020
A sharp rise in the illegal pet trade in the UK and Europe has been a cause for concern in recent years.
All pet breeders and sellers will have to be registered from 2020 under a new animal health law, which is set to be passed in the EU this autumn.
In a bid to tackle backstreet breeding and selling, the Eurogroup for Animals put forward the proposal, which won support from MEPs, the European Commission and member states.
When the animal health law is passed later on this year, member states will be expected to introduce further legislation to ensure pet breeders and sellers are registered by the deadline.
Welcoming the news, Cats Protection said registration could have a huge impact on animal welfare in the UK, and would shine a light on those who breed pets for sale.
Peter Hepburn, the charity's chief executive, said: "We have been greatly concerned by a sharp increase in the illegal trading of pets across the UK and Europe in recent years."
Unscrupulous breeders producing litter after litter contributes to the "growing crisis" in EU cat and dog populations, he added. "It also has serious implications beyond the health and wellbeing of the animals concerned, with many new owners faced with large vet bills after purchasing a sick or under-socialised pet."
While this is just the first step, Mr Hepburn said it is also an important one.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
