Microchipping
2.—(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.”.