Dog licences
I12Microchipping
1
In Article 6 of the Dogs Order (issue of dog licences) at the end add—
7
A district council shall not—
a
issue a dog licence in respect of a dog, or
b
issue a transfer certificate in respect of a new dog,
unless that dog has been microchipped; and any licence or transfer certificate purporting to be issued in respect of a dog which has not been microchipped is void.
8
For the purposes of paragraph (7) a dog is microchipped if (and only if)—
a
a microchip has been implanted in the dog before the coming into operation of section 2(1) of the Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011; or
b
a microchip is implanted in the dog in accordance with regulations under Article 31(1)(f).
9
Paragraph (7) does not apply if the keeper of the dog produces to the council a certificate signed by a veterinary surgeon to the effect that implantation (or continued implantation) of a microchip in the dog would have an adverse effect on the health of the dog.
2
In Article 31(1) of the Dogs Order (regulations with respect to dogs) after sub-paragraph (e) insert—
f
prescribe and regulate the microchipping of dogs and regulate the reading of any microchip implanted in a dog.
3
In Article 31 of the Dogs Order after paragraph (1) insert—
1A
Regulations under paragraph (1)(f) may in particular provide—
a
for the use of microchipping as a means of—
i
identification of a dog and its keeper;
ii
licence identification;
b
for conferring powers on officers in connection with such identification;
c
that a dog is microchipped for the purposes of Article 6(7) if (and only if)—
i
the microchip is of a prescribed class or description or of a class or description approved by a prescribed body or person;
ii
the microchip is implanted in the dog by a person of a prescribed class or description;
iii
any prescribed conditions in relation to the keeping and making available to councils of information in connection with the use of the microchip as mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) are satisfied; and
iv
any other prescribed conditions are satisfied.