Poland Introduces Mandatory Chip Registration for Dogs and Cats

President Karol Nawrocki signed a law establishing a national register for dogs and cats in Poland. The act requires owners, shelters and temporary‑care organisations to chip and register each animal, with the Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (ARiMR) managing the database. Owners can update information via the mObywatel app and receive vaccination reminders. Registration will be free for three years, after which fines of 20 zł to 5,000 zł apply for non‑compliance. The law excludes free‑roaming farm cats and leaves decisions on stray cats to local municipalities. The regulation takes effect two years after its publication in the official journal and aims to curb animal abandonment and improve traceability.