Who can now microchip dogs in Wales? Important update

Posted: 8 January 2018 at 1:29 pm

Important changes came into effect on 25 December 2017…

On 25 December 2015, legislation came into effect in Wales that included guidance on who could implant identification microchips into dogs.

As well as veterinary surgeons (and veterinary nurses, student veterinary surgeons and student veterinary nurses acting under the direction of a veterinary surgeon), there were two other groups of people who were legally allowed to microchip dogs, these were:

• Those people who have attended a training course approved by the Welsh Ministers for that purpose
• Anyone who had received training by a course provider that included practical experience of microchip implantation prior to 25 December 2015 – these people were also allowed to continue to implant microchips in dogs with grandfather rights for a period of two years

From 25 December 2017, those people microchipping dogs with grandfather rights as detailed above are no longer permitted to implant microchips into dogs if they have not retrained on an approved training course by that date.

If you have been microchipping dogs with grandfather rights and have not retrained, you must attend an approved training course to be able to continue microchipping.

The VetSkill Level 3 Award in Implantation of Identification Microchips in Animals is a regulated qualification approved by Ofqual and CCEA for delivery in England & N Ireland that has been approved by the Welsh Government as a suitable course for those wishing to continue to implant microchips into dogs.

If you are interested in undertaking this qualification please get in touch.