8.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5) the holder of a block licence shall ensure that all dogs kept under the licence shall be microchipped before they attain the appropriate age.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), in the case of such dogs the appropriate age is—
(a)from the date these Regulations come into operation, 12 weeks;
(b)from 1 January 2013, 8 weeks.
(3) Where a dog that has attained the appropriate age arrives on any premises for which a block licence is in force and has not already been microchipped, the holder of the licence shall microchip the dog within 7 days from the date the dog arrived on the premises.
(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to—
(a)a dog kept under a block licence if the holder of the licence produces to the district council a certificate signed by a veterinary surgeon to the effect that implantation (or continued implantation) of a microchip in that dog would have an adverse effect on the health of the dog;
(b)greyhounds kept under a block licence until 1 January 2013.
(5) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the holder of a block licence issued before the coming into operation of these Regulations.