Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
2.8.2023
An important objective of the EU animal welfare legislation revision, as announced in the Farm to Fork Strategy on 20 May 2020[1], is to broaden the scope of the existing legislation and include specific provisions on the protection of cats and dogs during transport. The impact assessment is being finalised and policy options for the planned legislative proposals are being carefully assessed.
1. The Commission is indeed looking into ways to introduce, among other measures, specific requirements for commercial transport of cats and dogs.
2. The Commission has not mandated a formal feasibility study on fitness checks before transport for cats and dogs. The question is addressed in the recommendations developed by the expert members of the ‘Voluntary initiative on the health and welfare of dogs and cats in trade’[2], operating under the EU Platform on animal welfare, and considered in the process of the impact assessment.