With obligatory microchipping of cats set to be launched in England from June, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has referred to as on the Welsh Government to point when it’s more likely to be launched in Wales.
Earlier this month, Mr Isherwood joined fellow politicians at a Cats Protection Senedd reception to debate how obligatory microchipping of pet cats would considerably enhance feline welfare in Wales.
Questioning the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths MS, in Wednesday’s assembly of the Welsh Parliament, he mentioned that 156,800, or 28 per cent, of owned cats in Wales are nonetheless not microchipped, “a figure that, according to Cats Protection research, has stagnated for the past several years”.
He subsequently referred to as on the Minister to stipulate what plans and timescales the Welsh Government has for introducing and monitoring obligatory microchipping.
Speaking within the Senedd Chamber, he mentioned:
“Microchipping cats in Wales is just not presently obligatory, not like in England, the place, from 10 June 2024, cats will must be microchipped and registered on a database by the point they’re 20 weeks’ old.
“The Welsh Government’s Animal Welfare Plan for 2021-26 says that ‘In partnership with the UK and Scottish Governments, we have commissioned research on the effectiveness of existing dog microchipping regulations. The research will also report on the potential benefits of the compulsory microchipping of kittens and cats’.
“One of the motion factors on this plan states that Welsh Government would ‘consider extending compulsory microchipping to include kittens and cats’, and likewise ‘consider, dependent upon the outcome of the research and consultation, new microchipping regulations for dogs and cats in Wales’.
“So, given that this is now 2024, what did the research and consultation conclude, how is that shaping the Welsh Government’s policy, and what plans and timescales, if any, do you have for introducing and monitoring compulsory microchipping?”
Responding, the Minister mentioned “it will be within the Animal Welfare Plan timescales, so that’s obviously before 2026”.
She added that “it’s unlikely that it will be this year”.
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