New rules for microchipping and registering dogs
Every year, approximately 50,000 dogs are brought to the Netherlands from abroad. Unfortunately, a large part of this trade is illegal, and we often see puppies being separated from their mothers too early, transported under poor conditions, and arriving in the Netherlands sick or weakened. This not only leads to the death of many puppies, but also to the transmission of infectious diseases, including diseases that can be transmitted to humans. To better control the dog trade, new rules have been introduced for the registration of dogs and the people involved in acquiring them.
If, after 1 November 2021, you buy or sell a dog, have or breed a litter, or bring a dog into the Netherlands from abroad, new rules will therefore apply.
Until now, the regulations already required that a dog could only be bought, sold or imported if the animal was microchipped and registered and had an EU pet passport. There was also already a registration requirement for commercial keepers of pets.
In addition, not only the current owner but also the dog’s first owner must now register. This means that not only breeders, but also people whose dog has a litter (even just once), people who bring a dog in from abroad, or people who take over a dog from someone else must register. The owner or keeper does this by applying for a Unique Business Number (UBN) for non-commercially kept dogs from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) via the website mijn.rvo.nl/bedrijfsmatig-huisdieren-houden.
This also means that, by law, veterinarians in the Netherlands are not permitted to microchip your dog, register it in an approved portal, or issue a passport if you have not applied for a UBN. When buying a dog, a prospective owner must check whether the dog has been microchipped, registered and has an EU pet passport. If you as the new owner receive a dog that does not meet these requirements, you are in violation of the regulations.
Have you accidentally bought a dog without registration or been deceived with a false passport? You must then apply for a UBN yourself via https://mijn.rvo.nl/bedrijfsmatig-huisdieren-houden. Then have your new dog microchipped and registered by a veterinarian in one of the designated portals within 2 weeks. Read more about registration: www.rvo.nl/hond-kopen.
If you already had a dog before 1 November 2021, you are not required to obtain an EU pet passport. The exceptions are if you travel abroad with your dog or if you sell or transfer your dog to a new owner after the new regulations came into effect.
For more information, please visit www.rvo.nl/hond-kopen or contact us!
Dierenkliniek De Jordaan team