A microchip is a small rice-grain-sized chip that is placed just below the skin in the back of the neck of dogs and cats. This chip is linked to a database that contains the owner’s and pet’s details and can be scanned by veterinarians and authorized scanners to reunite lost pets and their owners.

ACT

Yes. Section 84 of the Domestic Animals Act 2000 and Regulation 7 of the Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 requires microchipping of cats and dogs prior to sale/transfer and by 12 weeks of age.

Regulations 7 and 9 of the Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 outline what information must be recorded in the microchip database

NSW

Yes. Section 8 of the Companion Animals Act 1998 requires microchipping of cats and dogs prior to sale/transfer and by 12 weeks of age.

Regulation 8 of the Companion Animals Regulation 2008 outlines what information must be recorded in the microchip database.

From 1 July 2019, it is mandatory for anyone selling or giving away a dog or cat to use an identification number in their advertisement – this number can either be the microchip number or breeder identification number or a rehoming organization number. This is enforced under Section 23 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979. This allows buyers to search the NSW Pet Registry to see the pet’s details and make informed purchasing decisions.

NT

No. However, it is compulsory if you are within the City of Darwin as part of the Council’s Animal Management By-Laws.

QLD

Yes. Section 14 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 requires microchipping of cats and dogs prior to reaching 12 weeks of age unless there is a reasonable excuse.

Schedule 2 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008 and Schedule 4 of the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Regulation 2009 outline what information must be recorded in the microchip database.

SA

Yes. From 1st July 2018, part 4A of the Dog and Cat Management (Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 2016 (SA) requires microchipping of cats and dogs prior to sale/transfer and prior to reaching 12 weeks of age.

TAS

Yes for dogs. Section 15A of the Dog Control Act 2000 requires microchipping of dogs by 6 months of age.

Not yet for cats but owners of cats over six months of age are encouraged to have their cat microchipped and desexed. A compulsory microchipping and desexing requirement as part of the Cat Management Act 2009 will be phased in one year after the amendment if passed by parliament (likely by the end of 2021) which will require microchipping of cats by 6 months of age. After this time it will be necessary for cats being reclaimed from a cat management facility to be desexed and microchipped before being released to the owner.

VIC

Yes. Section 10C of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 requires cats and dogs to be microchipped as a condition of registration (which is compulsory once the animal is 3 months of age). However the requirement to microchip prior to sale/transfer under section 12A only applies to domestic animal businesses.

Regulation 12 of the Domestic Animals Regulations 2005 outlines what information must be recorded in the microchip database.

Section 12A (2) of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 requires an animal’s microchip number to be displayed in any advertisement for the animal, but not at the point of sale. If the seller is a ‘domestic animal business’ the breeder must display the microchip number or the breeder registration number, and the name of the issuing Council.

From 1 July 2019, any person or business who is advertising to sell or give away a dog or cat will need to be enrolled on the Pet Exchange Register. This enables buyers to make informed decisions when purchasing a new pet. It is an offense to advertise a dog or cat for sale or to give away without including the microchip number and a source number generated by the Pet Exchange Register under Part 5C of the Domestic Animals Act 1994.

WA

Yes. Section 21 of the Dog Act 1976 requires dogs to be microchipped when they are 3 months of age, and being registered for the first time or when a change of ownership occurs. As of 1 November 2015, all dogs that have reached 3 months of age must be microchipped regardless of registration status.

The information presented here is not intended to be relied on for legal advice and you should seek advice from the relevant authority and/or a lawyer about your individual circumstances.