A microchipagem de animais de estimação para a criação de um cadastro nacional de identificação animal no Brasil

Abstract

The present research, entitled “The microchipping of pets for the creation of the National Animal Identification Registry in Brazil”, aims to analyze how pet microchipping can contribute to the creation of a National Animal Identification Registry in Brazil, having as a parameter the way in which, in contemporary times, it is regulated by the various federative entities (Federal Government, States, Federal District and Municipalities). Data from PNS/2013 and PNS/2019 show that, over the years, there has been a progressive increase in the number of dogs and cats living in Brazilian households. In addition, data point to the fact that Brazil also stands out due to a vast population of other species of pets (song and ornamental birds, reptiles, small mammals and ornamental fish). Nevertheless, there is no federal law that sets out general rules on microchipping pets. Many States and Municipalities (capitals) do not even have their own legal norms on the subject and, even when they do, they regulate the matter in their own way, which generates a vast normative heterogeneity on the subject in Brazil. Given this reality, it was concluded that the creation and implementation of a National Animal Identification Registry, to be managed by the Federal Government — with the cooperation of the State, Federal District and Municipal Governments, and also of civil society — requires that pets be identified by implanting microchips. This is because the unique code of each microchip implanted and the database to which it refers will serve to feed the aforementioned Registry and enable an important feedback mechanism capable of constantly improving specific public policies and the protection of pets. The legal approach to animal microchipping, however, opens debates about Cyber Animal Law, a hybrid field of legal knowledge, which does not aim at the status of an autonomous discipline and which requires dialogue between Animal Law, Cyber Law and Cybernetics. The methodological option was for a bibliographic review and document analysis research, of a comparative, exploratory and descriptive nature. Data collection involved requesting information from the Health and/or Environment Departments of the States, the Federal District and the Municipalities (State Capitals), as well as, alternatively, it involved conducting research on websites specialized in legislation.