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.”.

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.”.

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.”.