A major EU-wide study has revealed overwhelming public support for a stronger, unified model to regulate the wild animal pet trade, while highlighting the current major gaps in EU animal welfare policy.
Europeans make their view clear
Data and market research company Savanta has released the results of a representative survey, inviting 18,227 adult EU citizens across 18 Member States to explore their views on animal welfare and practices.
Nearly two-thirds (62%) of Europeans favour unified, EU-wide regulations for the keeping of wild or exotic animals as pets, which would ensure that rules are the same in all Member States. In contrast, only 24% of those surveyed prefer the status quo: a patchwork of separate national regulations. An even smaller number of respondents believed no specific rules are needed (3%) and 11% of respondents weren’t sure.
Taking place in January 2026, Savanta’s poll is one of the most comprehensive studies to date on this important topic. You can explore the full results of the Savanta survey here.
Clear support behind Positive List and traceability
When asked to rank their preference from a selection of regulatory options, 36% of respondents selected the Positive List as a favourable solution. This approach just outperformed general bans (34%), with Negative Lists being less preferred (8%).
The Positive List is a regulatory model that lists the animal species that can be legally kept as pets within the European Union. Under this system, only species explicitly included on the list would be permitted, and all others would be banned. Those animals already in possession would be able to live out their lives with their owners, but breeding or purchasing new animals from non-listed species would be prohibited.
Savanta’s polling also pointed to a significant gap between current EU policy and public expectations for traceability. While the EU recently moved to harmonise rules for cats and dogs, 78% of citizens now want similar lifelong tracking – covering origin, trade, and destination – for wild animals in the pet trade.
AAP calls on Europe to act
For animal welfare organisations such as ours, the survey findings are both validating and urgent, and they allign with AAP’s advocacy on this important topic.
“The wild animal pet trade is currently a gift to traffickers who exploit loopholes across borders. This poll is not ambiguous: Europeans recognise that wild animals do not belong in living rooms and they want a system that stops the harm at the source.”
Together with a collective of other NGOs, we’re urging the European Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare to act on President Ursula von der Leyen’s mission letter to modernise EU animal welfare rules by developing a concrete roadmap towards an EU-wide Positive List, as well as mandatory traceability for wild animals entering, bred or traded within the Union.
Make your voices heard
Across the European Union citizens are showing a clear desire for stronger oversight to minimise the suffering caused by the wild animal pet trade.
We need your help to maintain momentum and to make this ambition a reality. We’ve launched a petition calling for the introduction of an EU-wide Positive List, which would specify which species can be kept as pets. Off the list? That’s a “no” to private ownership.
When it comes to ending animal suffering, we all have a voice – let’s make it count!
