Vets expected to be consulted on micro-chipping

Vets were not informed they would be responsible for the new compulsory dog microchipping service, and the law came into effect without consulting their representatives, the president of the Malta Veterinary Association said yesterday.

While welcoming the introduction of the service, Victor Vassallo said the association, which represents 95 per cent of vets in Malta, was extremely disappointed it had not been consulted.

“This especially in light of the fact that microchips have been available in Malta since 1999, and a database of those microchipped is run by the association itself.”

The association’s database, available to vets online, has helped re-home lost dogs, he said.

The government even announc­ed vets would offer the service, at a stipulated price, without informing them beforehand, Mr Vassallo said.

The law for the compulsory microchip tagging of dogs came into force last week. “We only heard about it from the newspaper. The government never consults the association when it comes to animal issues. I don’t know why.”

The Rural Affairs Ministry said consultation on the draft regulations was carried out with the Veterinary Surgeons Council, the official body representing the veterinary profession, which included representatives elected by warranted veterinarians.

Moreover, the government held consultations with the Animal Welfare Council, an institution formed of representatives as outlined in the Animal Welfare Act. Among other things, the council offers advice to the minister.

In introducing the new regulations, the government considered the fees regime in place for the registration of dogs, a ministry spokesman said.

The database used by the government, known as the national livestock database, has existed for more than six years and contained the registration of dog passports issued in the past year, the spokesman added, emphasising that no new database was being devised.

The veterinarians input the registration of dogs into this database when they issued passports via e-mail, he explained.