Alerts
11/1/2009 - New standards for the microchipping of horses in Victoria
BRIEF:
The Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994 will be renamed to be the Domestic Animals Act 1994 The supporting Regulations will also be renamed the Domestic Animals Regulations 2005
The changes to the Regulations introduce New standards for the microchipping of horses in Victoria
The Domestic Animals Regulations 2005, previously named the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Regulations 2005, have been amended to provide standards for the microchipping of horses. The introduction of these new Regulations facilitates the amendments made in 2007 to the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994 regarding standards for the microchipping of horses.
These standards have been introduced to ensure consistency in microchipping horses and to effectively enable the reunification of microchipped horses with their owners should they become displaced from the owner. The new legislation also deletes the words “feral and nuisance” from both the Act and the Regulations.
Please note that the new legislation restricts the microchipping of horses to only veterinary practitioners registered in Victoria that have completed the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Victorian Microchip Implementation Course, as required by the Domestic Animals Act 1994.
Authorised implanters that have already completed this course for the purpose of microchipping cats and dogs will not need to complete the course again, however please familiarise yourself with the enclosed changes to the horse section of the original training course DVD sent to you by the AVA.
Veterinary practitioners who are not currently authorised implanters and intend to microchip horses need to apply to the AVA for authorisation. Please note that it is now an offence under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 to implant a microchip into a horse without authorisation.
Changes to the legislation regarding microchipping of horses also include:
Regulation of the type of microchip to be used; Regulation of the implantation procedure (including documentation); and Record keeping procedures for licensed registries
Note that the legislation does NOT require mandatory microchipping of horses. However if a horse is microchipped it must be undertaken in accordance with the legislation.
These changes came into effect on 1st September 2009.
Any questions about the legislation can be directed to the DPI Customer Service Centre on by phoning 136 186 or by visiting the DPI website www/dpi.vic.gov.au/animalwelfare PLEASE NOTE - the updated legislation will NOT be available on the website until LATE Wednesday 2nd September.
Applications regarding the AVA microchip course can be made to the Australian Veterinary Association by calling 9600 2930 or by emailing avavic@ava.com.au.