The UK will harmonise its pet movement rules with
the rest of the European Union from 1 January 2012, bringing the
UK’s Pet Travel Scheme into line with the most recent science. The
UK will maintain its high level of protection against animal
diseases after the changes, which have the potential to save pet
owners around £7 million in fees.
Forcing pets to spend six months in quarantine, a
practice dating from the 1800s, is no longer necessary because of
vastly improved rabies vaccines and treatments.
All pets will still need to be vaccinated against
rabies. Pets from the EU and listed non-EU countries such as the USA
and Australia will no longer need a blood test and will only have to
wait 21 days before they travel. Pets from unlisted non-EU countries
such as India, Brazil and South Africa will be able to enter the UK
if they meet certain strict criteria to ensure they are protected
against rabies, including a blood test and a three-month wait
before they enter the UK.
The changes will ensure the risk of rabies coming
to the UK remains extremely low. It’s estimated that the new rules
mean there would be one case of rabies in a pet in the UK once every
211 years, with the possibility of a person dying from rabies
obtained from a pet once in every 21,000 years.
Scientific evidence shows that there is a robust
alternative to quarantine in preventing rabies incursion from those
countries where there is a high incidence of rabies and good reason
for changing our very precautionary rules. The EU pet travel rules
have been successful in preventing any cases of rabies occurring in
legally moved pets since the scheme started, so harmonising the UK’s
rules with those of the EU will make it easier for those who wish to
travel with their pets.
Tick treatment for pet animals returning to the UK
will no longer be required. All pet owners travelling abroad with
their animals should discuss with their vets the use of treatments,
including those designed to control ticks as part of good animal
health practice.
The UK, along with Ireland, Sweden and Malta, has
an exemption from the standard EU pet travel rules. They are all
harmonising their entry rules with the rest of the EU at the same
time as the UK.
Entry rules for pets entering the UK from the EU
and listed non-EU countries:
| What has to be done |
Now |
From 1 January 2012 |
| Microchip |
Yes |
Yes |
| Rabies vaccination |
Yes |
Yes |
| Documentation (pet passport
or third country certificate) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Blood test (dogs and cats) |
Yes |
No |
| Pre-entry waiting period |
Yes |
Yes |
| Length of waiting period
before entry to the UK |
6 months from date sample
taken for blood test |
21 days after vaccination
against rabies |
| Tick treatment |
Yes (24-48 hours before
embarkation) |
No |
| Tapeworm treatment |
Yes (as for ticks) |
Under consideration at
European level |
| |
|
|
Entry rules for pets entering the UK from unlisted
non-EU countries:What has to be done
| |
Now |
From 1 January 2012 |
|
Microchip |
All pets from unlisted third countries
are licensed into quarantine for 6 months and vaccinated
against rabies on arrival |
Yes |
|
Blood test |
Yes |
|
Documentation ( third country
certificate) |
Yes. Blood sample taken at least 30
days after vaccination. |
|
Pre-entry waiting period |
Yes |
| |
Yes |
|
Length of waiting period before entry
to the UK |
3 months after blood sample date |
|
Tick treatment |
No |
|
Tapeworm treatment |
Under consideration at European level |
