The law on the sale of Mediterranean tortoises changed on the 1st June 1997.  The problematic SPEX certificates have been revoked as it was recognised that this system was being widely abused.  Instead, individual licensing of each animal to be sold is again required.  A new requirement is that each tortoise must be ''uniquely marked'' - not an easy requirement to meet in the case of tortoises, and impossible with hatchlings.  The UK Scientific Authority have suggested microchipping for adult tortoises - at a cost of approximately 30 pounds - 40 pounds per animal.  This procedure can only be carried out by your vet.  The DOE, who are in charge of licensing, are presently insisting on the microchipping of all tortoises, including animals weighing as little as 100 g.  We are not at all happy about this, and we are discussing the situation with them.  Our view is that only larger animals can be "chipped" safely.

Hatchlings cannot be chipped at all although the law as it stands demands that they are!  This is another example of a badly thought-out piece of legislation, introduced without adequate consultation.

We are advised by the DOE that they WILL license the sale of small hatchlings, but only on condition that they are microchipped as soon as they are of a suitable size.  Quite how this will work in practice is anybody's guess...

We are glad to see the demise of the ''smuggler's charter'' SPEX system, but we are very concerned at the impracticalities of the new system, particularly with regard to microchipping.  We will continue to liase with the DOE and with the UK scientific authority to see if we can develop a more realistic and workable method of complying with these new Europe-wide regulations.

Full information from, and license applications, should be made to :