EU Regulation on the non-commercial movement of pet animals - questions and answers
Introduction
Q1. Why has the European Union (EU) introduced this Regulation?
A. To move towards harmonisation of Community rules on the movement of pets. Prior to this, each Member State set its own rules for movement of pets into its territory.
Q2. From when did it apply?
A. From 3 July 2004.
Q3. What are the arrangements called?
A. The UK continues to use the name “Pet Travel Scheme" (PETS for short).
Q4. Which are the Member States of the European Community (EU listed countries)?
A. These countries form the European Union and for the purposes of the EU Regulation include EU territories.
Q5. What is a non-EU (or third) country?
A. Any country which is not a member of the EU (but also see next question).
Q6. Are the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man covered by this Regulation?
A. Yes. For the purposes of the Regulation, they are regarded as part of the UK.
Q7. Which are the non-EU listed countries?
A. These are those countries outside the EU the European Commission has decided will be qualifying countries. Less restrictive conditions will apply to animals entering the EU from non-EU listed countries than from unlisted ones.
Q8. Which are the unlisted countries?
A. These countries are not listed but are all countries other than EU countries or non-EU listed countries identified in answers 4 and 7. Dogs, cats and ferrets entering the UK directly from unlisted third countries will still have to enter quarantine on arrival in the UK.
Q9. What is the position of the 10 European Member States that joined the EU in July 2004?
A. Cyprus and Malta have been part of PETS since 31 January 2001. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia became part of PETS on 3 July 2004. Dogs, cats and ferrets from north Cyprus (the area north of the Buffer Zone) must be licensed into quarantine for 6 months when entering the UK. An import licence must be obtained in advance of travelling.
Dogs and cats
(a) Movement between Member States and from non-EU listed countries into the EU
Q10. Can I still bring my dog/cat into or back into the UK without quarantine under the EU Regulation?
A. Yes. You are able to bring your dog or cat from EU and non-EU listed countries into or back into the UK without quarantine provided it meets the rules. It can travel directly or via any of those countries. The existing requirements for a microchip, vaccination, satisfactory blood test at an EU approved laboratory, and the 6 calendar month wait from the date the blood sample is taken have not changed. The requirement for animals to be treated for ticks and tapeworms 24 to 48 hours before being checked-in with an approved transport company to travel into the UK also remains. Pets must not have been outside any of the qualifying countries in the 6 calendar months immediately before travelling to the UK and must enter the UK using an approved transport company on an authorised route.
In EU countries, and Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland, an EU pet passport is required. In other non-EU listed countries a third country official veterinary certificate is required. The EU pets passport and the third country official veterinary certificate contains provision for recording the tick and tapeworm treatment.
Q11. Are the rules different for movement from the UK into other Member States?
A. The national authorities in Sweden, Malta and Cyprus should be contacted for details of entry requirements for those countries. There will continue to be free movement for pets travelling directly between the UK and the Republic of Ireland but if you have PETS documents you are advised to take them with you.
To take an animal from the UK into a Member State (other than Ireland (see above) and Sweden, Malta and Cyprus which have additional requirements), it must have been identified by a microchip (or certain countries may accept a tattoo), vaccinated against rabies and issued with a passport. Sweden also requires your pet to have been treated against tapeworms using a product containing praziquantel no more than 10 days before entering the country.
Your pet may not enter another EU country from the UK for 21 days from the date that the rabies vaccination is given. This rule applies only after the first time your pet is prepared, provided it is given subsequent rabies booster vaccinations by the required date.
Q12. What are the rules for moving dogs and cats under 3 months old?
A. The movement between certain Member States of dogs and cats
that are under 3 months old and unvaccinated may be allowed. They must
be accompanied by a passport and have stayed in the place where they were
born since birth without contact with wild animals likely to have been
exposed to rabies, or be accompanied by their mothers on whom they are
still dependent.
The entry into Member States of dogs and cats that are under 3 months
old and unvaccinated may be allowed from certain non-EU listed countries.
The conditions that will apply will be agreed later.
The UK does not allow the entry of unvaccinated dogs and cats, and animals may not be vaccinated against rabies until they have reached the minimum age for vaccination (as stated on the vaccine manufacturer's datasheet). To enter the UK they must then be prepared in accordance with all the requirements explained on the PETS website, taking account of the required order of preparation.
(b) Movement from unlisted countries
Q13. What are the rules for bringing dogs and cats from an unlisted country into or back into the UK?
A. Animals arriving in the UK will have to go into quarantine for 6 months.Q14. What are the rules for bringing a dog or cat from an unlisted country into or back into a Member State other than the UK, Ireland, Malta and Sweden?
A. The rules are available here.
Ferrets
Q15. What rules will apply to ferrets entering or re-entering the UK from other EU countries?
A. Ferrets must in this order be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and issued with a passport. They must be treated against ticks and tapeworms 24 to 48 hours before being checked-in with an approved transport company to travel into the UK and this treatment must be recorded in the passport. Ferrets must not have been outside any of the qualifying countries in the 6 calendar months immediately before travelling to the UK and must enter the UK using an approved transport company on an authorised route. A 6 month wait is not necessary. Your pet may not enter the UK from another EU country for 21 days from the date that the rabies vaccination, or if appropriate the final vaccination in a series, is given. This rule applies only after the first time your pet is prepared, provided it is given subsequent rabies booster vaccinations by the required date.
Ferrets from north Cyprus (the area north of the Buffer Zone) must be licensed into quarantine for 6 months when entering the UK. An import licence must be obtained in advance of travelling.
There are no requirements for ferrets entering the UK direct from the Republic of Ireland.
Ferrets from non-EU listed countries which travel to the UK via another EU country are subject to the 6 month rule (see A16 for details).
Q16. What rules will apply to ferrets entering or re-entering the UK from non-EU listed countries?
A. Ferrets must in this order be microchipped, and vaccinated against rabies. Ferrets prepared in Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland will be issued with an EU pet passport. If they are prepared in any other non-EU listed country they will need a third country official veterinary certificate. They must be treated against ticks and tapeworms 24 to 48 hours before being checked-in with an approved transport company to travel into the UK and this treatment must be recorded in the passport or on the third country official veterinary certificate. Ferrets must not have been outside any of the qualifying countries in the 6 calendar months immediately before travelling to the UK and must enter the UK using an approved transport company on an authorised route. They may not enter the UK until 6 months from the date they were vaccinated against rabies.
Ferrets from non-EU listed countries which travel to the UK via another EU country are also subject to the 6 month rule. Where a six month wait applies, your ferret must undertake it only once provided the subsequent rabies booster vaccinations are given by the required date.
Q17. What rules will apply to ferrets entering or re-entering the UK from unlisted countries?
A. Ferrets entering the UK directly from unlisted countries will have to be licensed into quarantine for 6 months. This must be arranged before the animal travels.Q18. What are the rules for bringing a ferret from an unlisted country into or back into a Member State other than the UK, Ireland, Malta and Sweden?
A. The rules are available here.Q19. What rules will apply to ferrets leaving the UK to go to other EU countries or travelling between other EU countries?
A. Ferrets must be identified by a microchip (or a tattoo may be accepted by certain countries), vaccinated and issued with a passport.
Your pet may not enter another EU country from the UK for 21 days from the date that the rabies vaccination is given. This rule applies only after the first time your pet is prepared, provided it is given subsequent rabies booster vaccinations by the required date.
Other animals
Q20. What other animals are covered by the Regulation?
A. Domestic rabbits and pet rodents (including guinea pigs, hamsters, rats, mice and gerbils), birds (except certain poultry), ornamental tropical fish, invertebrates (except bees and crustaceans), amphibians and reptiles.The EU Regulation does not affect animals covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which will remain subject to the provisions of Council Regulation 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora.
Q21. What are the rules on the movement of other animals under the Regulation?
A. These rules apply for pet rabbits and rodents. The rules for the movement of other species between EU countries, and into the EU, have not yet been set by the European Commission. To bring these animals into the UK they must meet either national import rules or the general rules for trade in the animal species.
For information on import licences for birds and guidance on the import of invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles please see www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/int-trde/default.htm, or e-mail: iah-imports@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Other issues
Q22. Does the Regulation state the type of rabies vaccine required?
A. Where a rabies vaccination is required, an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose must be used (World Health Organisation standard).Q23. Is there a limit on the number of animals I can travel with?
A. There is no limit when moving pets between EU countries. The maximum number of all types of pet animals each person may bring into the EU from most non-EU countries is 5. The exceptions are Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican for which no limit has yet been set. Moving more than 5 animals will be regarded as commercial movement. 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.ukQ24. What about the tick and tapeworm treatment?
A. This will be required for dogs, cats and ferrets, the treatment must be recorded in the pet passport, or third country official veterinary certificate.
Q25. Will I still have to complete a declaration of residence when entering the UK?
A. No .Page last modified: 19 June 2008