The Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023

Implanting of microchips

10.—(1) No person may implant a microchip in a cat or a dog unless one of the following paragraphs applies—

(a) they are a veterinary surgeon or a veterinary nurse acting under the direction of a veterinary surgeon;

(b) they are acting under the direction of a veterinary surgeon and are a student of veterinary surgery or a student veterinary nurse;

(c) in the case of a dog, they have—

(i) been satisfactorily assessed on a training course approved by the Secretary of State on or after 24th February 2015 for the purpose of implanting a microchip in a dog; or

(ii) received training in implantation which included practical experience of implanting a microchip in a dog before 24th February 2015; or

(d) in the case of a cat, they have—

(i) been satisfactorily assessed on a training course approved by the Secretary of State on or after the commencement date for the purpose of implanting a microchip in a cat; or

(ii) received training in implantation which included practical experience of implanting a microchip in a cat before the commencement date.

(2) Where it appears to the Secretary of State, on the basis of information provided pursuant to regulation 11 and of any other information, that a person to whom paragraph (1)(c) or (1)(d) applies is unable to implant microchips to a satisfactory standard, the Secretary of State may serve a notice on that person—

(a) prohibiting them from implanting microchips in cats or dogs, or

(b) prohibiting them from implanting microchips in cats or dogs, until they have received further training on a course approved by the Secretary of State.

(3) In this regulation—

“commencement date” means the date on which this regulation comes into force;

“student veterinary nurse” and “veterinary nurse” have the meanings given by Schedule 3 to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966(1) (“the 1966 Act”);

“student of veterinary surgery” has the meaning given by regulation 3 of the Schedule to the Veterinary Surgeons (Practice by Students) Regulations Order of Council 1981(2);

“veterinary surgeon” means a person registered in the register of veterinary surgeons kept under section 2 of the 1966 Act, or the supplementary veterinary register kept under section 8 of that Act(3).

(1)

1966 c. 36. Schedule 3 to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 was substituted by S.I. 1988/526. Paragraph 6 of that Schedule was inserted by S.I. 1991/1412 and substituted by S.I. 2002/1479. Paragraph 7 of that Schedule was inserted by S.I. 2002/1479 and amended by S.I. 2008/1824. There are other amendments to Schedule 3 which are not relevant to these Regulations.

(2)

S.I. 1982/988. The Regulations were made by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and have effect as contained in the Schedule to this Order of the Privy Council. Regulation 3 was substituted by S.I. 1995/2357.

(3)

Section 2 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 was amended by S.I. 2003/2919, S.I. 2008/1824, S.I. 2019/454 and S.I. 2020/1038.