New scheme to monitor adverse reactions to microchipping

New scheme to monitor adverse reactions to microchipping
Created: 30/04/2014


COMPULSORY microchipping of dogs comes into force in two years’ time, and it is likely that it will also become compulsory to report any adverse reactions to the process.

This has been proposed in draft legislation, and in anticipation the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has launched a monitoring scheme to which such events can be reported – such as implantation reactions, or microchip rejections, migrations or failures.

As reported in the Veterinary Record, anyone can report such an event, including animal owners, vets, veterinary staff and chip implanters.

Microchipping is already compulsory in Northern Ireland and will become compulsory in England on April 6, 2016, and on March 1, 2015 in Wales.

The new legislation in England will require all dogs over eight weeks of age to be chipped and their details registered on a database. It will be the keeper’s responsibility to ensure this is done.

Dogs being brought into the country will also have to be logged on a database if they are going to stay for more than 30 days or before that if they have been transferred to a new keeper.

For a dog to be exempt from the requirement it will have to be certified by a vet as unfit to be chipped. Most exemptions will be time limited, and if the dog is not chipped it must wear a collar and identification tag, those at the recent British Small Animals Veterinary Association (BSAVA) congress heard. Vets will not be expected to enforce the legislation.

It was the Microchip Trade Association – of which between 70 and 80 per cent of UK chip manufacturers are members – which asked the VMD to set up a monitoring scheme, and it was launched at the congress.

Giles Davis, head of the VMD’s pharmacovigilance unit said the directorate had no major concerns currently about the safe of chips, and that the BSAVA’s scheme had about 80 cases reported to it a year.

Has anyone ever heard of any adverse reactions to micro-chipping?

I've heard of adverse reactions before. I've also heard that the USA is considering compulsory microchipping of children (I'm not joking before you ask!)

What were the adverse reactions Wendy?

And you are surely joking about microchipping children   

It's been reported that tumours can form at the site of a microchip implant, and dogs can also suffer allergic reactions to them. Plus, of course, some chips do migrate.

Thank you Caryll.

When Dempsey goes for his MOT in June I'll ask them to scan him & check that the chip is still in place. Always better to know if it's moved.

I agree with compulsory identification, but I still think owners should have the choice between 'permanent' forms of identification. I would personally still go for microchipping, but I know there are people who dislike it.

I must admit that it's a comfort for me to know that Kuchar is chipped (my first dog to have it done).

Dempsey's microchipping was delayed due to loose skin around his neck, but he was done as well.

Yes, Lynda, it's my first time to have a dog chipped as well. I'm not keen, and I resisted it for a while (plus, he had very loose skin around his neck/shoulder area) but the pros outweighed the cons in the end. Plus, of course, it'll become compulsory soon anyway.

Buster is chipped but Gus isn't. He will be when I get around to it though.