Press release

New rules will make it easier and cheaper to travel abroad with pets

It will be cheaper and easier to travel abroad with pets from 1 January 2012, when the UK harmonises its rules governing pet movement with the rest of Europe.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 30 December 2011
• Last updated: 11 February 2014 — See all updates

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Read up-to-date information on taking your pet abroad

(This press release was published on 30 December 2011 and has not been updated since)

The Pet Travel Scheme has been successfully operating across Europe since 2004, and will allow the UK to maintain high levels of protection against animal disease whilst bringing it into line with scientific advances and updating a system first devised in the 1800s.

All pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies and dogs must be treated for tapeworm, with important checks still being performed before animals are allowed to enter the UK. The scheme could save UK pet owners around £7 million in fees - around £100 in vet fees per person travelling inside the EU and up to £2,500 in quarantine fees for those travelling outside the EU.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Taylor said:

“From the 1 January it will be cheaper and easier to travel with your pets thanks to new rules being implemented as part of the Pet Travel Scheme.

“Science has made tremendous advances since quarantine was introduced in the 1800s. We now have vastly improved vaccines and treatments but have not updated our old-fashioned systems to reflect this, which places an unnecessary burden on pet owners who need to take their animals abroad.

“It is about time we made changes that allow pet owners to travel abroad more easily and cheaply whilst still maintaining our high level of protection against animal diseases. The Pet Travel Scheme has been operating successfully in other countries since 2004 and from the 1 January pet owners in the UK will also be subject to its sensible and proportionate rules.”

Under the Pet Travel Scheme, pets from the EU and other countries with robust veterinary systems (listed non-EU countries), such as the USA and Australia, will be required to vaccinate against rabies and then wait 21 days after vaccination before they travel.

Pets from unlisted, non-EU countries, such as India, Brazil and South Africa, will need to meet stricter criteria. This includes vaccination against rabies, a blood test, and a three month wait after the blood sample before they enter the UK.

All dogs must be treated for tapeworm up to five days before entering the UK. Pet owners planning to travel abroad with their animals are advised to discuss with their vets what they are required to do some time before their travel dates, as part of good animal health practice.

Ireland and Sweden will also bring their pet travel rules into line with the rest of the EU from the 1 January.

Notes

1. Further information on the new pet travel scheme can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/pets
2. Tapeworm treatment will need to be an approved/licensed veterinary medicine whose active ingredient is Praziquantel, or an equivalent product.
3. 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 and tapeworm as part of good animal health practice.
4. 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) 1-5 days before entry to the UK

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

Rabies vaccination Yes

Blood test Yes. Blood sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination.

Documentation (third country certificate) Yes

Pre-entry waiting period Yes

Length of waiting period before entry to the UK 3 months after blood sample date

Tick treatment No

Tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry to the UK

Published 30 December 2011
Last updated 11 February 2014 + show all updates

1. 11 February 2014

   Added link to the current 'Taking your pet abroad' information.

2. 30 December 2011

   First published.