{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/dogs-amendment-act-northern-ireland-2011/section-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/dogs-amendment-act-northern-ireland-2011/section-2.json",
  "legislation": "nia/2011/9",
  "legislation_title": "Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/dogs-amendment-act-northern-ireland-2011",
  "path": "section/2",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Microchipping",
  "text": "(1) In Article 6 of the Dogs Order (issue of dog licences) at the end add—\n“(7) A district council shall not—\n(a) issue a dog licence in respect of a dog, or\n(b) issue a transfer certificate in respect of a new dog,\nunless that dog has been microchipped; and any licence or transfer certificate purporting to be issued in respect of a dog which has not been microchipped is void.\n(8) For the purposes of paragraph (7) a dog is microchipped if (and only if)—\n(a) a microchip has been implanted in the dog before the coming into operation of section 2(1) of the Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011; or\n(b) a microchip is implanted in the dog in accordance with regulations under Article 31(1)(f).\n(9) Paragraph (7) does not apply if the keeper of the dog produces to the council a certificate signed by a veterinary surgeon to the effect that implantation (or continued implantation) of a microchip in the dog would have an adverse effect on the health of the dog.”.\n(2) In Article 31(1) of the Dogs Order (regulations with respect to dogs) after sub-paragraph (e) insert—\n“(f) prescribe and regulate the microchipping of dogs and regulate the reading of any microchip implanted in a dog.”.\n(3) In Article 31 of the Dogs Order after paragraph (1) insert—\n“(1A) Regulations under paragraph (1)(f) may in particular provide—\n(a) for the use of microchipping as a means of—\n(i) identification of a dog and its keeper;\n(ii) licence identification;\n(b) for conferring powers on officers in connection with such identification;\n(c) that a dog is microchipped for the purposes of Article 6(7) if (and only if)—\n(i) the microchip is of a prescribed class or description or of a class or description approved by a prescribed body or person;\n(ii) the microchip is implanted in the dog by a person of a prescribed class or description;\n(iii) any prescribed conditions in relation to the keeping and making available to councils of information in connection with the use of the microchip as mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) are satisfied; and\n(iv) any other prescribed conditions are satisfied.”.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 2 in operation at 9.4.2012 by S.R. 2012/131, art. 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2011/9/section/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:20:54.035463+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}