The microchipping law came into effect in June 2018 to help tackle abuse and improve animal welfare. All equines will need to be microchipped by law according to the timeline below, which varies slightly according to the location of the PIO to which your horse is registered:
England: 1 October 2020
Scotland: 28 March 2021
Wales: 12 February 2021
CED will allow local authorities and police to track down the owners of dumped equines and make sure they are punished, and the animals are given the care they deserve. Microchipping will also mean lost or stolen equines will be reunited with their owners more easily.
Civil sanctions are now able to be applied, in addition to criminal sanctions, for failing to comply with these deadlines. Civil sanctions mean that anyone not complying by the deadline may be liable for a compliance notice, which may lead to a fixed penalty notice and a fine.
No, the microchip must be implanted by a qualified veterinary surgeon.
It’s important to check that your equine has a microchip AND that this microchip is recorded on CED. You can check your equine’s microchip here: https://www.equineregister.co.uk/home.
If your equine has a microchip but it doesn’t appear on CED, you’ll need to notify your PIO of the microchip number. If your equine hasn’t been microchipped, you’ll need to contact your vet to arrange for this to be done.
If your equine has a passport issued in another European Union country, you’ll need to make sure that the equine’s passport is recorded on CED, along with its microchip number, within 30 days of the equine having arrived.