In March 2024, the previous Government said it would make scanning, checking & reuniting lost & abducted pets more effective by introducing a central portal for approved users-vets, local authorities & police-to search all records instantly, instead of contacting databases individually.
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This has not happened.
There are currently 23 government-compliant databases and cross-checking them is seen by many as an 'administrative burden. A central portal could reunite lost & abducted pets with families in minutes. The portal could make registrations easier to access, increase scanning & checking rates, and lead to more reunites. We believe this is a vital step to make pet microchipping work. We call on the government to deliver the central portal now to make chips count.
Monday 23rd February 2026
Defra is currently working with the Association of Microchip Database Operators to develop commercial solutions that will provide easier access to microchip records for authorised users.
Since the introduction of compulsory dog microchipping in 2016, the number of compliant database operators has risen from 4 to 24. Whilst the growth in the number of database operators has resulted in more choice for consumers, it has made it harder for approved users such as vets to access records quickly.
To address this, as set out in the Animal welfare strategy for England,
(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-welfare-strategy-for-england/animal-welfare-strategy-for-england)
Defra is working with the Association of Microchip Database Operators (AMDO) to develop improvements to the way the microchipping regime currently operates. AMDO is currently testing industry-led solutions that will enable authorised users to access information contained on the databases digitally through a single point of search.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs