There is no specific legislation covering the microchipping of companion small animal species in the UK other than dogs (and in England, owned cats). However, depending on the circumstances, it may be considered an act of Veterinary Surgery, according to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and therefore may need to be carried out by a veterinary surgeon.

RCVS Guidance

The supporting guidance for the RCVS code of professional conduct states:

29.12  In most species, the following guidance applies:

  1. implantation by methods other than the subcutaneous route, ear tag or bolus will generally amount to veterinary surgery in view of the potential for pain or stress or for spreading disease, and in some cases the likely handling difficulties;
  2. the repair or closure of the entry site, where necessary, will generally amount to veterinary surgery;
  3. sedation and analgesia are medical treatment and so amount to veterinary surgery. Depending upon the nature of the treatment which is necessary it may be lawful for it to be carried out by a veterinary nurse under veterinary direction or by the owner;
  4. the procedure may amount to veterinary surgery if there is special risk to the health or welfare of the animal.

Non-Traditional Companion Animals (NTCA)

In many non-traditional companion animal species, the subcutaneous route is not appropriate. In these species, such as birds, intramuscular implantation is often required, which can only be performed by a vet. In some smaller taxa such as invertebrates and small amphibians, the intracoelomic route may be used, but can equally only be performed by a vet. Please refer to RCVS Guidance as above.

Pet Travel Regulations (non-commercial travel): Ferrets and other species

Under the Pet Travel Regulations, The Non-commercial Movement of Pet Animals (Amendment) Order 2014  and The Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015, in order to travel abroad, ferrets must be identified by a microchip, and this should be inserted before rabies vaccination is carried out. The legislation specifies who is permitted to carry out the microchip implantation. Other species may also require to be identified, depending on the country they are travelling to or from.

Private Primate Keepers

Under the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations (2024), individuals who wish to keep primates privately must be licensed by the Local Authority. One of the conditions of obtaining a licence is that each primate must be implanted with a microchip that:

(a) has a unique number which includes the manufacturer’s code

(b) is compliant with ISO standard 11784:1996 of the International Standards Organisation’s standards for microchips

(c) is compliant with ISO standard 11785:1996 of the International Standards Organisation’s standards for microchips apart from Callitrichids

(d) responds to a transponder which operates at 134.2 kilohertz and conforms with the FDXB protocol set out in ISO standards 11784:1996 and 11785:1996

Licence holders must ensure each primate is microchipped with a compliant microchip, and it is advised that keepers register the primate on one of the databases listed by the Government in the guidance.

All microchips must be fitted by a trained professional and licence holders must consult their veterinarian to arrange microchipping for any of their primates that are not already microchipped or whose microchip fails to read. The licence holder must ensure that each primate is implanted with a compliant microchip within 2 years of the primate’s birth (if they were born on the licence holder’s premises) or the licence holder first taking possession of the primate. It is best practice to microchip the primate as soon as possible for traceability, but a veterinarian may advise waiting longer in certain cases.

See further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/licence-conditions-for-primate-keepers-schedule-1

Additional information

When animals, as covered by this section, are microchipped for legal reasons a veterinary signature of microchipping is usually required for any certification. For example, keeping wild birds of prey in captivity requires them to be microchipped by a vet if not ringed as a young chick with a closed ring, which would satisfy the requirement for permanent identification.

If you are certifying any animal as covered in this section for export, please refer to guidance specific to Official Veterinarians (OVs) and relevant to the country to which the animal is being exported or is transiting through before reaching its final destination.

CITES

For animals traded under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) see additional guidance here.

WSAVA

The WSAVA has produced Global Guidelines setting out the recommended implantation sites for microchips in various species.

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