Are microchips required or choice???

When traveling... is it required to have your dog microchiped now???
Or is it free choice like it was before???
Someone mentioned it might be manditory... is there anyway arround this?
Any info or expertise out there?
thanks, Jonothan

hi TD as far as i know it is manditory for the UKs pet passport scheme heres a link http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/

To get your pet into the pet travel scheme you must (in order):

1. Microchip your pet.

2. Have your pet vaccinated against rabies.

3. 30 days or more after step 2. get your vet to take a blood sample to be tested for the rabies antibody.

4. Assuming that this result is positive, the vet wil issue a PETS certificate.

This means that 6 months after the date of the blood test, your pet will then be allowed back into the UK from PETS compliant countries with no quarantine (and early release for those coming back within the 6 months).

05/07/2004 - Transportation of pets within EU countries



The European Commission announced on 10. June 2004 an agreement providing a temporary solution to ensure the smooth movement of pets throughout the EU this summer, since most Member States are not ready to implement the new system by the agreed deadline of 3 July. In particular, the distribution of the passports to veterinarians is proving problematic. To avoid the risk of travel being disrupted during the busy summer season, the European Commission has offered a flexible solution to ensure that pets will have the necessary documents for travel.

While the new system (i.e. pet passport) will come into force on 3 July, today’s decision allows the existing system to operate in parallel until 1 October, when it will cease. The new simplified system means that for movements of cats, dogs and ferrets between EU Member States other than Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, valid rabies vaccination will be the only requirement for travel. Pet owners must simply contact their veterinarian to get their pet vaccinated and the veterinarian to update the passport with the details of the vaccination.
An electronic microchip (transponder) - to be introduced over the next eight years by the Member States - will allow for easy identification of the animals, connecting the pet to the passport. During this transitional period of 8 years, a tattoo will also be allowed as a way to identify the animal, except for the UK and Ireland which already now require the transponder. Young pets which cannot be vaccinated yet may be allowed to travel without vaccination. For the entry of animals into Ireland, Sweden or the United Kingdom, antibody titration (a test to see if the vaccine has been effective) will need to be carried out after the vaccination (sample taken at least six months before the movement as regards UK and Ireland, for Sweden sample taken at least 120 days after the vaccination).


Practical Rules in force from the 3 July to the 1 october


Movements between Member States
To a Member State OTHER than the UK, Ireland and Sweden: shall be allowed entry of:
- Animals in strict compliance with the new Regulation (with a Passport attesting valid rabies vaccination)
or until the 1 October
- Animals accompanied by the veterinary certificate which used to be required by national authorities before the 3 July

To the UK, Ireland and Sweden: shall be allowed entry of
- Animals strictly in compliance with the new Regulation: with a Passport attesting a valid vaccination and a test, tick and echinococcus treatments (national rules apply for the type of identification and the timing of the treatments before the movement and the test for rabies: sample taken at least 6 months before the movement for UK and Ireland, sample taken 120 days after the vaccination for Sweden).
or until the 1 October
- Animals accompanied with the certificate (rabies vaccination and test, tick and echinicoccus treatment) which used to be required under the national rules in force before the 3 July).

Movements from non-EU third countries
A. Rules applying to movements between Member States also apply to movements from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State
B. From the following third countries with a favourable situation regarding rabies:
Ascension Island, Antigua and Barbuda, Netherlands Antilles, Australia, Aruba, Barbados, Bahrain, Bermuda, Canada, Croatia, Fiji, Falkland Islands, French Polynesia, Jamaica, Japan, Cayman Islands, Mayotte, Montserrat, Mauritius, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Pierre et Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, United States of America, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna

To a Member State OTHER than UK, IRL and Sweden: shall be allowed entry of
- Animals accompanied by the health certificate of the model established in Decision 2004/203/EC attesting a valid rabies vaccination. This certificate can be downloaded at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/anima...m_third_en.htm
or until the 1 October
- Animals accompanied by the veterinary certificate which used to be required under national rules in force before the 3 July

To the UK, Ireland and Sweden: shall be allowed entry of
- Animals accompanied by the health certificate of the model established in Decision 2004/203/EC attesting a valid rabies vaccination and a test, tick and echinococcus treatments (national rules apply for the type of identification and the timing of the treatments before the movement and the test for rabies: sample taken at least 6 months before the movement for UK and Ireland, sample taken 120 days after the vaccination for Sweden). This certificate can be downloaded at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/anima...m_third_en.htm
or until the 1 October
- Animals accompanied by the veterinary certificate (rabies vaccination and test, tick and echinicoccus treatment) which used to be required under the national rules in force before the 3 July.

C. From other third countries not listed above
To a Member State OTHER than UK, IRL and Sweden: shall be allowed entry of
- Animals accompanied by the health certificate of the model established in Decision 2004/203/EC attesting a valid rabies vaccination and a test 3 months before the movement. This certificate can be downloaded at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/anima...m_third_en.htm
Or until the 1 October
- Animals accompanied by the veterinary certificate which used to be required under national rules in force before the 3 July.
Please note that the UK, Ireland and Sweden do not allow the direct entry of animals coming from these third countries and animals will be put in quarantine

Please note that the list of countries with a favourable situation regarding rabies may be amended. For the most recent information, please consult this website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/anima...t_third_en.htm