The Saeima of Latvia on Thursday, March 14, urgently reviewed and approved the amendments to the "Veterinary Law" in the second reading. The deputies voted for the final decision.
As of July 1, 2024, mandatory microchipping and registration of all cats at the Agricultural Data Centre (ADC) will come into effect.
It should be noted that for seven years now, dogs in Latvia have been required to have a microchip, which must be registered with the ADC. However, until recently, this requirement did not apply to cats and ferrets.
Registration of pets in the unified state Register is a paid service — the current fee is 9.00 euros.
A representative of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agija Mediņa, noted that microchipping your cat will provide protection for both the animal and the owner, making it easier to find their pet.
The registration process will be monitored by the municipal police and the Food and Veterinary Service.
The initial version of the amendments provided for a three-year transition period for already adult animals: cats born before June 30 of this year must be microchipped and registered in the Pet Register database of the Agricultural Data Centre by June 30, 2027.
Lawmakers also did not forget about dogs. It is now prohibited to keep dogs on a leash; however, this rule does not apply to dogs born before August 31 of last year.
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