In Ireland, specific regulations govern the sale of dogs, particularly concerning microchipping and registration. Understanding these regulations is essential for both sellers and buyers.

Microchips implanted in dogs must comply with ISO-11784 and ISO-11785 standards. These chips consist of 15 digits, typically commencing with numbers such as 972, 981, 987, or 991, without any letters or special characters.

To comply with the law, a dog must be microchipped, and the microchip registered on one of the four approved Irish databases: IKC, ICC, Fido, or Animark. It's crucial to maintain up-to-date registration information.

Dogs imported into Ireland require a Pet Passport and must have their microchips registered on an Irish database within 21 days of entry.

Verification of microchip registration status can be done through EuroPetNet.com, which aggregates data from various European databases. Additionally, direct checks can be performed on individual databases or through aggregators like Europetnet.com and Petmaxx.

For dogs in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, microchip registration is handled via check-a-chip.co.uk, following similar regulations.

Some countries, such as Romania and Hungary, offer direct lookup tools for their registries. Discussions regarding a central microchip lookup tool in Ireland are ongoing.

Romania – https://rompetid.ro/

Hungary – https://www.petvetdata.hu/

Compliance with microchipping and registration regulations is essential for dog sellers and owners in Ireland. Staying informed about these requirements ensures legal adherence and facilitates pet identification and reunification efforts.