Latest 2026 regulations for animal handling businesses. Registration requirements, in-person explanation obligations, and microchip mandates explained.
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Latest 2026 regulations for animal handling businesses. Registration requirements, in-person explanation obligations, and microchip mandates explained.
Breeders who sell animals are required to register as a Type 1 Animal Handling Business under the Animal Welfare and Management Act.
Registration with the prefectural governor is required when engaging in animal sales or breeding as a business. This requires appointing an Animal Handling Manager (qualifications or practical experience required), meeting facility standards, and renewing every 5 years.
Before sale, you must provide an in-person or video call explanation (via Zoom, LINE, etc.) at least once covering breed characteristics, care methods, adult size, common diseases, etc., and allow physical inspection. Records of explanation dates and content must be kept for 5 years.
Since June 2022, dog and cat breeders are required to implant microchips and register them with the Ministry of the Environment's designated registration agency before transfer. Only veterinarians may perform the implantation.
Standards now fully enforced include: maximum animals per employee (20 dogs or 30 cats), breeding frequency limits (lifetime maximum of 6 times for dogs), breeding retirement age (up to 6 years for dogs), and minimum sale age (56 days or older for dogs and cats).
Since June 2020, keeping designated animals (large snakes, crocodilians, large lizards, etc.) as pets has been generally prohibited.
Operating without registration carries fines up to 1 million yen, violating in-person explanation requirements carries fines up to 300,000 yen, and animal abuse or abandonment carries up to 5 years imprisonment or fines up to 5 million yen.
Bri-Choku requires registered breeders to provide their animal handling business registration number. Start your breeder registration from the [Bri-Choku homepage](/).