New regulations impacting the pet industry across Europe and Asia-Pacific

The new initiatives address how companion animals are sold, how veterinary medicines are prescribed and how stray animal populations are managed.

France

The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty has issued a new decree introducing penalties for pet stores that fail to comply with the ban on selling dogs and cats.

Effective 2 August 2026, the decree classifies the sale of a dog or cat in a pet store as a fifth-class offense, carrying a fine of up to €1,500 ($1,740) per animal, rising to €3,000 ($3,480) for a repeat offense.

In addition, displaying animals that are visible from a public road open to traffic, regardless of species, is classified as a fourth-class offense, carrying a fine of up to €750 ($870) per animal.

The new measures complement the 30 November 2021 law (Article 15), which prohibits pet stores from selling dogs and cats on their premises effective 1 January 2024. The law also makes it illegal for pet stores to display animals that are visible from a public road open to traffic, a provision that has been in effect since 1 December 2021.

Australia

The Parliament of the Australian state of Victoria voted unanimously to introduce electronic prescribing for veterinarians.

The reform would reduce the paperwork burden on veterinary practices, give animal owners more choice and convenience, and enhance public safety through secure e-script technology.

According to the Australian Veterinary Innovation Council, parliamentary inquiries around the country have also recommended e-prescribing for veterinarians, which could lead to national adoption.

E-scripts are digitally created and securely transmitted between a veterinarian and an authorized pharmacy. They are tamper-proof, traceable and are generated within the veterinary practice’s prescribing software.

During debate on the motion, Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said that this proposal “does not require legislation. It is a change that can happen while they are still in government.” After receiving support from the House, the state government must now consider the proposed reform.

Malaysia

The Malaysian government is considering proposals to establish a dedicated fund for animal welfare in the federal budget and introduce tax incentives for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and pet owners.

The proposals were discussed in July during a dialogue session with government agencies, NGOs and pet industry players focused on cats and dogs.

Political secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Datuk Azman Abidin said the absence of dedicated government funding has left most NGOs and animal shelters relying on voluntary work and their own resources to rescue and manage stray animals.

NGO representative Jurieena Abdul Rani said government financial support would also help organizations work with local authorities to control stray cat and dog populations.

Azman said the dialogue’s proposals and recommendations for legal improvements will be compiled into an official paper before being submitted to the government for consideration and further action.