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<p>The Government is committed to microchipping pets. There has not been Government
spending on specific campaigns to encourage microchipping of cats and dogs in in the
last three years. However, the Government promotes microchipping in the statutory
codes of practice for the welfare of cats, dogs and horses. In addition, the Government’s
Petfished campaign, which encourages responsible pet acquisition, advises people to
ask whether a cat or dog is microchipped before buying.</p><p> </p><p>The Microchipping
of Dogs (England) Regulations came into effect in 2016 and we launched a public consultation
on compulsory cat and dog microchipping and scanning in England in December 2020 which
highlighted the importance of cat and dog microchipping.</p><p> </p><p>The Equine
Identification (England) Regulations 2018 require that all equines in England (except
those semi-wild ponies permanently resident in certain designated areas) must be microchipped
from 1 October 2020. Government comms campaigns were launched in July and September
2020 to remind those in England with horses born before 1 July 2009 (which were provided
with a grace period in the interim) of the legal requirement to have them microchipped
by 1 October 2020. Details of the cost of these campaigns is not however available.</p><p>
</p><p>This is a devolved matter and this response relates to the situation applying
in England.</p><p> </p>
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