Once a microchip has been implanted the details must be recorded on a Defra approved database in order to comply with the definition of ‘microchipping’ included in the regulations. A full list of databases which meet government standards is available on the Gov.uk website.

The following information is required in the English regulations, please be aware that there are slight differences in requirements in the Welsh and Scottish regulations, see below. For the following, the requirements for cats applies to the English regulations only.

  1. The full name, address and telephone number of the keeper; A keeper is defined at regulation 2(2):
  2. a) For an assistance dog (as defined in section 173(1) of the Equality Act 2010)the body responsible for its training and allocation up until the dog stops working as an assistance dog; once it stops working as an assistance dog the keeper is the person it lives with;
    b) For a newborn puppy, the owner of a bitch that gives birth to that puppy, the fact that this is the breeder is also required (this means that the breeder is the first keeper of any dog that has been bred by the owner of the bitch); or
    c) For any other dogs or cats, the person with whom the animal normally resides.

If the keeper is homeless, contact details for someone the keeper stays in touch with may be entered.

In this regulation ‘breeder’ means any keeper of a bitch that whelps, whether or not they carry on a business as a breeder of dogs; if the keeper is the breeder and is licensed by the local authority under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018*  the following should also be recorded:

(i) the breeder’s licence number; and
(ii) the name of the local authority by which they are licensed;

  1. The original name or identification number given to the dog or cat; and the name given to the dog or cat by the current keeper, if that is different
  2. The sex of the dog or cat;
  3. The breed of the dog or cat, or a description if it is a cross-breed;
  4. The colour of the dog or cat;
  5. The dog or cat’s date of birth to the best of the keeper’s knowledge– in the case of the breeder this should be the exact date of birth;
  6. The unique number of the microchip implanted in the dog or cat.

*equivalent legislation in devolved nations:

The Animal Welfare (Breeding of Dogs) (Wales) Regulations 2014

The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021

In addition:

The Welsh legislation states that the date of birth entered should be ‘the most accurate estimate of the dog’s date of birth which the keeper of the dog is capable of giving’ and also requires the keeper’s email address (if any) and any distinguishing features of the dog.

The Scottish legislation states that the date of birth entered should be ‘the most accurate estimate of the dog’s date of birth which the keeper of the dog is capable of giving’ and also requires the keeper’s email address (if any).

In Northern Ireland, dog owners are responsible for making sure that the contact details held against their dog’s microchip number are accurate and recorded on a database accessible to Council officers. BSAVA recommends it is sensible to record the same information as required in the English legislation.

While the responsibility for ensuring details are recorded or updated on the database legally sits with the keeper, in reality many veterinary practices will take on the responsibility for registering details of the keeper for any microchips that they implant. While the veterinary practice should make normal enquiries and take care to ensure that the details are entered accurately, they are not expected to make documentary checks on the information provided by the keeper.

Transfer of ownership

From 6th April 2016, no keeper may transfer a dog to a new keeper until it has been microchipped unless an exemption certificate that the dog should not be microchipped for reasons of the animal’s health has been issued by a veterinary surgeon (see Requirements and Exemptions section).

From 6th April 2016, where a dog is transferred to a new keeper the new keeper must, unless the previous keeper has already done so, record their full name, address and contact telephone number (if any) and any change in the dog’s name with the database on which the dog’s details are recorded.

From 10th June 2024, the above provisions also apply in England to all owned cats over 20 weeks of age.

Veterinary surgeons are not expected to enforce these regulations but do have a role in ensuring that their clients are aware of their responsibilities under the law, and registration is an essential part of compliance with the regulations.

Where a new keeper presents with a dog or cat that is already microchipped and still registered to the previous keeper they should be advised to contact the appropriate database.

Return to contents