Micro-chipping information from Wales

Please note registration forms for foal registrations can be downloaded from www.wpcs.uk.com

The Society is no longer accepting the old style application forms for registration.

This letter has been sent out to all members on the 3rd June, 2009.

Dear Member,

As you are probably aware, new European Legislation requires that as from 1st July 2009 equines first identified (i.e. passport applied for) shall be micro-chipped. Whilst the Society appreciates that this is to many an additional and unwelcome extra cost, it is a legal and not a Society requirement with severe penalties for non-compliance.

Transitional arrangements are that equines born before 30th June 2009 who have had their passport applications lodged by that date (last date for posting 27/6/2009) will be dealt with under the present system, without micro-chipping. Equines born on or after 1st July 2009 or passport application for those born before this date but not lodged until after 1st July 2009 must be micro-chipped.

In order to minimise additional costs to members and also to ensure that common-use scanner readable micro-chips, with established quality disposable applicators and numbers unique to the Welsh breeds, the Society has undertaken to be the sole supplier of micro-chips for use in pure and part-bred Welsh ponies and cobs.

By bulk buying we are confident that we will be able to show considerable savings compared to other sources of chips and maintain quality.

For 2009 only the Society has decided to absorb the cost of supplying micro-chips and maintain passport/registration costs lodged before 31st December 2009 at their current level.

Implantation of the micro-chips must be carried out by Veterinary Surgeons with a minimum qualification of being members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The cost of implantation is the responsibility of the owner and will be by negotiation with the owners chosen Veterinary Surgeon.

Registration packs inclusive of micro-chip, disposable applicator, revised registration form and notes for guidance will be available from 1st July 2009 at a cost of £22, payable at the time of ordering (order form enclosed) and this fee will include cost of registration, issue of passport and entry onto the WP&CS database and the National database as required by the legislation. Spare registration forms will be available from the Office or the Exhibition Unit at request.

By absorbing the cost of micro-chips this year the Society will be able to establish the actual additional cost incurred by the new regulations and revised fees for 2010 will be included in the spring newsletter and mailing, which will include order forms for registration packs for 2010.

From Council of Welsh Pony and Cob Society