EU Regulation on the non-commercial movement of pet animals
The European Regulation on the animal health requirements for the non-commercial movement of pet animals was published on 13 June 2003 as EC Regulation No. 998/2003. It came into force on 3 July 2003 and applied from 3 July 2004. The Regulation can be downloaded from the European Union (EU) website.
The Regulation sets out the requirements for the movement of pet animals (dogs, cats and ferrets) travelling within the European Community, and into the Community from non-EU countries. It also refers to importation requirements applying to rodents, domestic rabbits, birds (except certain poultry), ornamental tropical fish, invertebrates (except bees and crustaceans), amphibians and reptiles. We are still waiting for more information from Brussels about requirements relating to some of these species.
For dogs and cats, the Regulation will allow the rules of the UK Pet Travel Scheme to continue largely unchanged for 5 years. The main changes relate to the introduction of a pet passport for dogs, cats and ferrets, an expanded list of qualifying countries, and the requirements for other species.
We have produced a brief of questions and answers about the Regulation which will be updated as necessary.
Before you travel with a pet travel under the Pet Travel Scheme it is essential that your pet meets the appropriate rules.
EU pet passport
Dogs, cats and ferrets meeting the necessary requirements may move between EU Member States if they are accompanied by an EU pet passport. All these countries recognise this document. The final version of this passport was published on 27 November in the Official Journal of the European Union L312. You can view and print the passport from the European Union website. Certain non-EU listed countries may also issue a passport. Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are doing so.
The passport replaces the PETS 1 certificate and is accepted for entry to the UK from other Member States and from other qualifying countries. It replaces the PETS 5 and other documents previously required to enter other EU countries. There are some special arrangements for pet owners whose animals have a valid PETS certificate (see 'Current certificates' below).
Non-EU countries certificate
A Decision introducing an official veterinary certificate to accompany pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU (including the UK) from non-EU countries has been published. It can only be used to enter the UK when issued in a listed country.
Qualifying or listed countries
Dogs, cats and ferrets will be able to enter the UK from listed countries
provided they meet the relevant requirements. The EU has published the
list
of qualifying countries 
(36 KB). All countries which previously qualified for PETS are in the
list. However, there is important information you should read if you are
considering bringing your pet to the UK from north
Cyprus (the area north of the Buffer Zone).
Czech Republic, Latvia, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia became qualifying countries on 3 July 2004. Some other countries were also added to the list on 3 July 2004. They are Aruba, Croatia, the Faroe Islands, French Guyana, Greenland, the Grenadines, the Netherlands Antilles and St Pierre & Miquelon.
From 20 October 2004 the following countries became qualifying countries for the Pet Travel Scheme; Chile, Hong Kong, Russian Federation and the United Arab Emirates plus the Spanish Islands of Cueta and Melilla. From 20 January 2005, Taiwan became a qualifying country. Argentina qualified on 26 July 2005, and Guam, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Belarus and Romania qualified on 2 December 2005. Bulgaria and Bosnia Herzegovina qualified on 10 March 2006 and the British Virgin Islands on 11 July 2006. Only some of these countries have approved routes to the UK. Animals that enter the UK on an unapproved route must be licensed into quarantine with a view to obtaining early release. This must be arranged before the animal travels to the UK.
There will still be free movement within the British Isles, including between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. However, owners with PETS documents are advised to take these with them when travelling with their animal. Pets can be carried on any route within the British Isles subject to the transport company's agreement and conditions of carriage.
Further information
We have produced factsheets on the EU Regulation and the rules for travelling with dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits and rodents. We will continue to update this website with more information as it becomes available. Please contact the PETS helpline if you need further information.
Commercially traded animals
The EU Regulation also made some amendments to the Balai Directive on
commercially traded animals (Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992)
which applied from 3 July 2004. For more details on commercially traded
animals contact Defra's International Animal Health Division on 020 7904
6415 or e-mail: iah-imports@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Page last modified:
11 October, 2007
Page published: 11 October 2004