The legislation, which enters into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, prohibits breeders from engaging in inbreeding, forbidding breeding between parents and offspring, grandparents and grandchildren, and between siblings and half-siblings.

In addition to the microchip and its registration in a national database, travelling within the EU with a pet requires a European Pet Passport—the official identification document—and up-to-date rabies vaccination.

Breeders will also be prohibited from breeding animals to exaggerate breed characteristics—a practice that endangers animal health.

Sellers, breeders, and shelters have four years to adapt to the new rules, while pet owners who do not sell animals face different transition periods: ten years for dog owners and fifteen years for cat owners, after which the measures become binding.

For owners who do not sell animals, the measures will become binding after 10 years for dogs and 15 years for cats.