PETS: What vets need to do - dogs and cats
Documentation
EU pet passports have replaced PETS entry or re-entry certificates. No PETS certificates or PETS 5 certificates (for entry to France from the UK) should now be issued. Pet owners can still use PETS certificates to enter or re-enter the UK, and other EU countries, until the “Valid until” date shown on the certificate. Passports may be issued before the expiry date of PETS certificates. Passports are being issued by all EU countries, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.
(a) Issuing an EU pet passport
Dogs and cats can be issued with a passport after they have been microchipped and vaccinated. The passport will allow them to enter most other EU countries from the UK plus Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland. However, to enter or re-enter the UK the pet must have had a satisfactory blood test, which can be arranged in the UK or in any other listed country. Pets entering Malta, and those entering the Republic of Ireland from any country other than the UK, must also have had a satisfactory blood test. There are no requirements for animals travelling directly between the UK and Ireland. The 6 calendar months wait to enter or re-enter the UK will apply from the date the blood sample that gave a satisfactory test result was taken.
A passport may only be issued for an animal if all of the following requirements are met:
- it shows no clinical signs of rabies
- you have read its microchip and the same number is shown on the vaccination record (and blood test result if appropriate)
- it has a current rabies vaccination given after it was microchipped
- if appropriate it has been blood tested after vaccination with a result showing the rabies neutralising antibody titre at a level of 0.5 lU/ml or greater.
The guidance notes accompanying the passport explain how to complete each section.
A fully completed PETS certificate may be used as the basis for completing a passport, provided the animal has a current rabies vaccination.
An official veterinary certificate headed “Veterinary certificate for pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering the European Community for non-commercial movements (Regulation (EC) No 998/2003)” issued an a non-EU listed country is also acceptable as the basis for issuing a passport. It must be accompanied by the animal’s vaccination record and blood test result, both of which must show the animal’s microchip number. The animal must have been revaccinated against rabies by the “Valid until” date shown in section IV.
Validity of a passport (6 month rule and 21 day wait)
A passport will not become valid for entry or re-entry to the UK under PETS until 6 calendar months have passed from the date the blood sample which gave a satisfactory test result was taken. For example, if a blood sample is taken on 1 January, the animal can enter the UK from 1 July. If the passport is issued after that 6 month period has passed, it will be immediately valid for entry to the UK.
The passport will remain valid for entry to the UK provided the animal receives a rabies booster vaccination by the “Valid until” date in section IV (see the vaccination section for more details). This section also explains what to do if the booster has been missed.
The passport will not become valid for travel from the UK to other EU countries for 21 days from the date of the animal's rabies vaccination.
Updating or replacing the passport
A vet (in Great Britain a Panel 2 LVI) must sign and stamp section IV of the passport each time a booster vaccination is given. When the passport is full, a new one should be issued.
If a passport is lost, a new one can be issued on the basis of supporting evidence of the pet’s vaccination record and blood test result both showing the animal’s microchip number which must be checked.
(b) Issuing a third country official veterinary certificate
A third country official veterinary certificate may only be issued for an animal to enter the UK if all of the following requirements are met:
- it shows no clinical signs of rabies
- you have read its microchip and the same number is shown on the vaccination record and blood test result
- it has a current rabies vaccination given after it was microchipped
- it has been blood tested after vaccination with a result showing the rabies neutralising antibody titre at a level of 0.5 IU/ml or greater
For entry into the UK this certificate can be issued by any vet in a non-EU listed country. It is headed ‘Veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets entering the European Community for non-commercial movements (Regulation (EC) No 998/2003)’. The certificate must be a single sheet in English and may also contain a translation in another language. It must be completed in block letters in the language of the EU country of entry or in English.
You should complete sections I to V of the certificate and all the details in the following box. If you are not a government-approved veterinarian, the certificate must also be dated and stamped by a veterinarian authorised by the competent authority.
Validity of the certificate
The certificate will not become valid for entry to the UK for 6 calendar months from the blood sample date shown in section V. However, it is only valid for entry to the EU and subsequent travel within the EU for 4 months from the date it was signed or endorsed, or until the “Valid until” date shown in section IV, whichever is earlier. Pet owners wishing to enter the UK with their pet should therefore be encouraged to delay getting the certificate until a month or two before they travel to ensure that it will still be valid when they enter the UK.
Before entering the UK, dogs and cats must be treated
against ticks and tapeworms. Both the passport and the third country
certificate include provision for this treatment to be recorded. Dogs
and cats must also be treated for tapeworms with a product containing
praziquantel no more than 10 days before entering Sweden.
Page last modified: 1 March, 2007