It means all horses, ponies, donkeys or mules need to be microchipped in England.
It means that people will be legally obliged to have a passport for their animal, and have it microchipped before travelling to the UK or EU – including for emergency medical treatment.
Pictured: It can sometimes take a while to get an equine put on the national database.
“There are a small number of equines in the Bailiwick which are not microchipped and therefore are not registered on the Central Equine Database and do not have a passport,” said a spokesperson for the States. “Following this change in legislation, these animals will now require this in order to be identified before they could be exported to either the UK or EU.”
This includes for urgent veterinary treatment such as colic surgery, for example, which could be delayed as a result.
If there is a change of keeper, the new owner must record their new details on the database within 30 days of transfer.
Pictured top: Having your animal microchipped will ensure smooth movement to and from the UK.