Microchipping of Donkeys

 

In 2004, the Minister for Agriculture and Food issued the European Communities (Equine Stud-Book and Competition) Regulations 2004.   These Regulations apply to donkeys as well as to horses and came into effect on 4 October 2004.

 

Regulation 6(2) provides that the owner or keeper of a donkey shall ensure that, when it is being moved, it is accompanied by an identification document (“passport”).

 

Regulation 2(1) provides that “move” means any movement out of a holding or other place, including movement between premises, entering competitions, for the purpose of breeding, being sold or being presented for slaughter.

 

The Regulations also have some implications for the treatment of a donkey by a vet.   The Society understands that these implications are currently under negotiation by the Department of Agriculture and Food with the Veterinary Officers’ Association.

 

In accordance with Regulation 7(1), approval has been given by the Minister for Agriculture and Food for the Irish Horse Board to issue passports for donkeys.

 

In order to issue a passport for a donkey, the Irish Horse Board requires that the donkey be microchipped.   The procedure to be followed is that the owner or keeper of the donkey should write to the Irish Horse Board enclosing €15 and requesting a microchip and marking sheet for the donkey to be issued to their vet.   The vet will then identify and microchip the donkey.   The vet’s fee is to be met by the owner/keeper of the donkey.   The completed marking sheet should be returned, together with €20, to the Irish Horse Board, and the Board will then issue a passport to the owner/keeper of the donkey.

 

The Regulations themselves do not require that a donkey be microchipped to be issued with a passport.   This is a requirement set by the Irish Horse Board.   The reason the Board has given for the requirement is that unique identifying markings are not readily visible on donkeys.

 

It should be noted that, at present, the legal requirement that an owner/keeper possess a passport for a donkey only applies when a donkey is “being moved” within the meaning of that phrase as quoted above.   For example, it does not apply to a donkey which is kept on particular premises and is never moved from those premises.