BSAVA consultation on compulsory chipping
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has made plans to consult with its members over concerns and opinions regarding the role of the veterinary surgeon on compulsory microchipping.
Despite the announcement that dog microchipping is to become the law in England from 2016 being generally welcomed, questions have been raised over its implementation.
The BSAVA said the statement from the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) came before a full and considered consultation. It is therefore planning its own consultation among its members.
The association asked: "With an estimated three million or more dogs in the UK currently without microchips, will the profession be expected to bear the brunt of the cost of training and paying staff to carry out the procedure, as well as the significant administration that follows?"
It continued: "The current information from Defra suggests that the service will be free to pet owners. Even if this is the case at the Dogs Trust, Battersea and Blue Cross centres, it is unlikely that they will receive all unchipped dogs, so will those owners entering a private practice have similar expectations?"
Meanwhile, a recent Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) question time session posed similar queries.
Concerns were raised over the creation of "trust issues" between vet and client caused by enforcing the legislation. Others raised issues regarding time and dog welfare.
One delegate commented: "I think if we were obliged to contact somebody to let him or her know there is a problem with a microchip, the owner will know there is a problem with that dog and won't take it to the vet. That's a welfare problem."
Anyone that would like to be involved in the BSAVA's consultation should click here or email Sally Everitt, scientific policy officer.
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
