Microchippng of Dogs Regulations 2015.
Statutory Instruments
Source: Statutory Instruments

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paragraphs: These Regulations may be cited as the Microchippng of Dogs Regulations 2015 and come into operation on 1 June 2015.
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paragraphs: In these Regulations—
(a) a passport,
(b) a driver’s licence, or
(c) a form of identity containing a photograph of the person issued by An Garda Siochana or a Minister of the Government;
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paragraphs: (1) A dog is microchipped and registered for the purposes of these Regulations if the dog is implanted with a microchip suitable for the internal use in the body of an animal which—
(a) generates an International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) certified unique code when read with a scanning device,
(b) complies with ISO Standard 11784, applies FDX-B technology and is capable of being read using a reading device compatible with ISO Standard 11785, and
(c) the unique code of which is entered on a dog identification database with the information specified in Regulation 5(2).
(2) These Regulations apply to—
(a) a dog born after 1 June 2015 upon it reaching the age of 12 weeks,
(b) all dogs to which S.16(1) of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 applies from 1 September 2015 and
(c) all dogs from 31 March 2016,
(3) It is not necessary for a dog in which a transponder was inserted prior to the commencement of these Regulations to have a microchip inserted upon commencement, if the transponder is a microchip within the meaning of Regulation 2, and information listed at Regulation 5(2) is entered on a dog identification database.
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paragraphs: (1) A person shall not—
(a) have a dog in his or her possession or under his control unless the dog is microchipped and registered in accordance with Regulation 3 or the dog is less than the age of 12 weeks,
(b) transport a dog from the land or premises where it was born or cause or permit another person to so transport a dog unless the dog is microchipped and registered in accordance with Regulation 3 before such transportation,
(c) sell or supply a dog or cause or permit another person to sell or supply a dog unless the dog is microchipped and registered in accordance with Regulation 3 before such sale or supply, or
(d) acquire a dog or cause or permit another person acquire a dog unless the dog is microchipped and registered in accordance with Regulation 3 before such acquisition.
(2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply to a dog when it is being transported from the land or premises where it was born, by appointment, to a facility operated by a veterinary practitioner, for the purpose of being microchipped and registered in accordance with Regulation 3.
(3) A person who imports a dog shall have the dog microchipped and registered for the purposes of these Regulations within 21 days of importing the dog.
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paragraphs: (1) A dog identification database is a database listed on the website of the Department of State of the Minister that complies with the conditions set down in the Schedule, is used to record the information specified in paragraph (2) as notified to the operator and whose operator has signed a service agreement with the Minister for the purpose of these Regulations.
(2) The information that is to be entered on a dog identification database is—
(a) the unique identifier of the microchip inserted in the dog,
(b) the date of insertion of microchip,
(c) the date of birth of the dog,
(d) description of the dog which may include breed, colour and markings,
(e) the sex of the dog,
(f) the address of the premises where the dog is normally kept,
(g) the name, address and contact details of the owner and, if different, person having possession or control of the dog,
(h) the identity (including a unique identifying code assigned by the Database operator) of the person who microchips and registers a dog,
(i) details (cause, date and place) of the death of the dog, and
(j) details and date of the loss of the dog.
(3) The Minister may decline to list a database, or remove a dog identification database from the list mentioned in paragraph (1).
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (3), the Minister may decline to list a database, or the Minister may remove a dog identification database from the list mentioned in paragraph(1), if the Minister is of the opinion that—
(a) the operator has contravened these Regulations or committed an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 ,
(b) the operator is not a fit person to operate a dog identification database,
(c) the operator does not have the services of skilled personnel including those defined in Regulation 11, to adequately operate a dog identification database,
(d) the operator does not have available the requisite technical knowledge to adequately operate a dog identification database,
(e) the operator does not have available the requisite systems or standard operational procedures to adequately operate a dog identification database,
(f) the service provided by the dog identification database has fallen short of that required,
(g) the operator has failed to furnish information to the Minister or to an authorised officer, or
(h) the operator’s activities have caused unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal.
(5) Where the Minister proposes to remove a dog identification database from the list mentioned in Regulation 4(1), the Minister shall—
(a) notify the operator in writing of the proposal, the reason for the proposal and that the operator may make representations in relation to the proposal not later than 14 days from the date of the written notification,
(b) consider any representations duly made, and
(c) make a decision and inform the operator in writing, stating the decision and the reasons for the decision.
(6) Where the Minister removes a dog identification database from the list mentioned in paragraph(1), the dog identification database operator shall furnish records of registered dogs to a person and in a form as the Minister requires.
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paragraphs: (1) A dog identification database shall be capable of producing a certificate containing the information specified in Regulation 5(2) in respect of a dog whose details are entered on the database (“certificate of registration”).
(2) The operator of a dog identification database shall make available a certificate of registration relating to a dog whose details are entered on the database—
(a) to an authorised officer on a request being made in that regard, and
(b) to the person identified on the dog identification database as the owner of the dog.
(3) A certificate of registration shall be in a form and contain such information as the Minister may determine.
(4) A person whose name is entered on a dog identification database shall, in respect of a dog in his or her possession or under his or her control, take all necessary steps to ensure that the information specified in Regulation 5(2) is accurate and up to date.
(5) A person shall not have a dog to which these Regulations apply in his or her possession or under his or her control unless he or she has possession of a current certificate of registration relating to the dog and shall produce the certificate of registration for inspection by an authorised officer—
(a) on a request being made in that regard, or
(b) at a place and time specified by the authorised officer.
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paragraphs: (1) A person shall not sell or supply a dog or cause or permit another person to sell or supply, a dog unless—
(a) the person acquiring the dog has produced for inspection an accepted form of identification and a utility bill issued within the previous three months giving the person’s address,
(b) he or she endorses the name and address of the person acquiring the dog, as recorded on the utility bill referred to in subparagraph (a), on a legible copy of a certificate of registration relating to the dog, and
(c) he or she gives the endorsed certificate of registration to the person acquiring the dog.
(2) A person who sells or supplies a dog shall, at the time of sale or supply, notify the dog identification database which holds information relating to the dog in a form specified by the dog identification database operator of the name, address and contact details of the person acquiring the dog.
(3) The operator of a dog identification database shall, on receipt, record the information received under this Regulation on the database.
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paragraphs: (1) A person who acquires a dog shall at the time of acquisition–
(a) notify a dog identification database in a form specified by the dog identification database operator giving all necessary information to have his or her name, address and other contact details entered in that database by the operator, and
(b) send the certificate of registration received under Regulation 7(1) with a copy of the accepted form of identification and utility bill referred to in that paragraph to the dog identification database.
(2) The operator of a dog identification database shall, on receipt, record the information received under this Regulation on the database and shall issue an updated certificate of ownership to the person acquiring the dog.
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paragraphs: (1) The owner or person in charge of a dog shall, immediately after the death or loss of the dog, notify the dog identification database which holds information relating to the dog in a form specified by the dog identification database operator giving all necessary information to have the death or loss entered in that database by the operator.
(2) A person who euthanizes a dog shall, where the owner cannot be contacted, immediately after the death of the dog, notify the dog identification database which holds information relating to the dog in a form specified by the dog identification database operator giving all necessary information to have the death entered in that database.
(3) The operator of a dog identification database shall, on receipt, record the information received under this Regulation on the database.
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paragraphs: (1) A person shall not in purported compliance with these Regulations have a dog implanted with a transponder-
(a) that does not comply with ISO Standard 11784, does not apply FDX-B technology or is not capable of being read by a reading device compatible with ISO Standard 11785, and
(b) unless the person requesting the service has produced for inspection an accepted form of identification and a utility bill referred to in Regulation 7(1) giving the person’s address.
(2) A person shall not microchip and register a dog unless he or she is—
(a) a veterinary practitioner,
(b) a veterinary nurse,
(c) a person—
(i) trained in accordance with Regulation 11, to insert the microchip and correctly handle the data and identifying material for the microchip, and
(ii) whose name, address and other contact information are published on the website of a dog identification database.
(3) A person mentioned in paragraph (2)(c) shall not register a dog on a dog identification database unless he or she has successfully completed training in the use of that database and been assigned a unique identifying number by the operator.
(4) A person shall not microchip and register a dog with a microchip if he or she or a connected person-
(a) has a pecuniary interest or other beneficial interest in the dog,
(b) is the owner or part owner of the dog,
(c) has possession or control of the dog whether on a full time or part-time basis, or
(d) is a partner or an employee of a person to whom subparagraph (a), (b) or (c) refers.
(5) The operator of a dog breeding establishment or a person employed in connection with such an establishment shall not identify a dog for the purposes of these Regulations.
(6) Paragraphs (3) and (4) do not apply to–
(a) a person employed by a charitable organisation (within the meaning of section 2 of the Charities Act 2009 ) engaged in providing shelter for animals, or
(b) a person employed by a hunt club within the meaning of section 2 of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 .
(7) In this Regulation “connected person” means, in relation to a person, a spouse, partner, brother, sister, parent, child, or the spouse of a child.
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paragraphs: (1) The operator of a dog identification database may provide for the training of persons to identify a dog with a microchip and register the dog on a dog identification database and shall—
(a) give a certificate indicating that a person has successfully completed a training course, and
(b) assign a unique identifying number,
(2) The operator of a dog identification database shall notify the Minister of the content of a training course no less than 14 days in advance and amend it should the Minister require.
(3) The operator of a dog identification database shall notify the Minister of the name and address and other contact information of each person to whom a certificate referred to in paragraph (1) is given.
(4) The operator of a dog identification database shall publish the names and contact information of persons trained by them on the website of the dog identification database.
(5) The operator of a dog identification database may, for sufficient cause, remove the name and contact information of a person from a list published, under paragraph (4).
(6) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (5), the Minister may require the removal of the name and contact information of a person from the list published, under paragraph (3), on the website of a dog identification database, if the Minister is of the opinion that—
(a) the person has contravened these Regulations or committed an offence under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 ,
(b) the person is not a fit person to insert a microchip,
(c) the person has failed to submit information in a timely manner,
(d) the person has submitted information that was false or misleading,
(e) the person has failed to comply with standard instructions regarding inserting a microchip or submitting information,
(f) the person has used transponders that fail to meet the standard of a microchip in these Regulations, or
(g) the person’s activities have caused unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal.
(7) Where the operator of a dog identification database proposes to remove the name and contact information of a person from a list published, under paragraph (3), he or she shall—
(a) inform the person concerned in writing of the proposal, the reason for the proposal and that the person may make representations in relation to the proposal not later than 14 days from the date of the written notification,
(b) consider any representations duly made, and
(c) make a decision and inform the person concerned in writing, stating the decision and the reasons for the decision.
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paragraphs: (1) A person who supplies a microchip shall maintain a record detailing, in respect of each consignment,-
(a) the number of microchips in the consignment,
(b) the unique identification number of each microchip,
(c) the date of supply,
(d) the name, address and other contact details of the person to whom the microchip is supplied.
(2) A person who implants a microchip in a dog, shall maintain a record detailing, in respect of each microchip—
(a) the unique identification number of each microchip,
(b) the date of implantation, and
(c) the name, address and other contact details of the person to whom the microchip is supplied.
(3) A person importing microchips shall notify a dog identification database, with whom they have a contract for storage of data, of the unique identification number of each microchip.
(4) A record maintained under this Regulation shall be maintained for twenty years following its insertion into a dog to which it relates and shall be made available on request to an authorised officer.
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paragraphs: Regulations 4, 5(6), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are penal provisions to which section 36 (4) (b) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 applies.
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paragraphs: Regulations under section 9 (2) of the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 do not apply to a dog microchipped and registered in accordance with these Regulations.
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paragraphs: These Regulations are in addition to, and not in substitution for, the Pet Passports (No. 2) Regulations 2014.