In about a year from now, all foals born in the European Union will have to be microchipped, according to legislation passed in March of this year. The Department of Environment, Health and Rural Affairs in the UK (DEFRA) met with a number of equine organizations recently to identify issues related to microchipping, according to the British news magazine Horse and Hound.

The group is hoping for a draft set of regulations by September. Lee Hackett from the British Horse Society told Horse and Hound: "A few issues were discussed including what standard of microchips will be allowed, where they will be placed, whether vets or other suitably trained professionals will be able to microchip and derogations for semi-feral groups including New Forest and Dartmoor ponies."

In addition, the European Commission has this week adopted a regulation that it hopes will help improve the health of horses as it creates a better and clearer identification system. All equines, including donkeys and other members of the equidae family will now have to acquire their individual passports within six months of their birth. At the same time, when the passport is issued, the animal will be tagged with an electronic chip that will be injected in to its neck. The chip will match the passport.