Q&A for pet travel scheme

A: There are three main differences between the pre-1 January 2012 UK pet movement controls and the new rules from 1 January 2012:

• Under the new rules pet dogs and cats from other EU Member States and listed Third countries will not need a blood test and can enter the UK 21 days after their rabies vaccination (rather than having to wait 6 months after their blood test).
• Under the new rules pets from unlisted Third countries will be allowed to enter the UK through approved routes (or approved airport for assistance dogs) without quarantine as long as they meet the EU entry requirements (microchip, rabies vaccination, blood sample at least 30 days after vaccination), and then wait a further 3 months after the blood sample was taken for the test before being able to enter the UK.
• Under the new rules there is no requirement for pets to be treated for ticks before their arrival in the UK. The UK is in discussion with the EU about continued controls on tapeworm for dogs.
• Further detailed information on the changes can be found on Defra’s website.
  

Entry rules for pets entering the UK from the EU and listed third countries

Entry rules for pets from unlisted third countries

A: For the purposes of the pet movements system in the EU, countries are divided into three different categories (named in the EU pet movement regulation) with varying movement controls: the full list is available on the Defra website.

• Member States or equivalents: EU Member States, but also EEA countries e.g. Switzerland, Norway
• Llisted third countries: countries which the EU consider do not present a higher risk of disease incursion compared with movements within the EU (e.g. Australia, New Zealand) or where there is convincing evidence that they have effective systems in place to report, control and manage rabies (e.g. USA).
• Unlisted third countries: countries which have not been accepted for listed status, because of less robust veterinary or administrative systems, higher rabies incidence, or because they have never applied (e.g. India, China, Sri Lanka).

A: The new rules will only affect the import of pet dogs, cats and ferrets. Rules relating to other species will remain as they are now:

• see the Defra website for further information.

A: The blood test will remain a requirement for pets arriving from unlisted countries outside the EU. However, for movements from the EU and listed third countries, where the waiting period is only 21 days, the blood test would not mitigate the risk any further and therefore is not required.

A: The revised rules will deliver substantial benefits to pet owners, making it easier and cheaper for the people who travel from the UK and return with their pets (on average 100,000) each year, and especially for those travelling with their pets for the first time. These changes will also provide UK citizens the same level of free movement with their pet animals which other EU citizens are allowed.

These changes are also scientifically justified. The level of risk to the public has substantially reduced in recent years as the incidence of rabies in domestic and wild animal populations in the EU and other countries has decreased, and the treatments for pets and humans are far more effective.

The EU pet movement system has been highly successful, demonstrated by the fact that, with many hundreds of thousands of pet movements across and into the EU, there has not been a single case of rabies associated with the legal movement of pets under the scheme since the system was introduced in 2004.

A: Yes. Pets entering the UK after 1 January 2012 will be checked to make sure they meet the new requirements of the Scheme regardless of which country they are coming from.

As the rules for pets coming from the EU and listed third countries will be simpler, the checks that need to be carried out on those pets will be more straightforward. Pets coming to the UK from unlisted third countries after 1 January 2012 will need to be checked on arrival to make sure they meet the entry rules.

A: If pets are not found to have met the rules when they arrive in the UK, they will be licensed into quarantine, re-exported or destroyed. It is most likely that pet owners will choose for their animals to enter quarantine.

A: Tapeworm treatment issues account for most of the failures, in particular pet owners not arranging the treatment within the defined timeframe. The new rules will make it easier for pet owners to comply with the requirements.

A: Pets must be three months old and have reached the minimum age for vaccination, as stated on the vaccine manufacturer’s datasheet. There are minor exceptions where an EU Member State may accept entry of unvaccinated pets less than 3 months of age. Check the Defra website for further information.

A: Generally these are in very small numbers and are diseases which are not considered to have a high impact on public or animal health. This is probably because the disease can be easily treated (for example several parasitic infections) or there is no vector in the UK so transmission to other animals or humans is unlikely (for example Leishmania).

The Government believes this strikes the right balance between an acceptable level of risk and allowing UK citizens the freedom of movement with their pets. Pet owners are advised to consult their veterinary surgeon before travel for advice on protecting their pet whilst abroad.

• Dog heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) is transmitted by mosquitoes. If pet are brought back into the UK with this disease, there is no risk in transmitting it to other pets as the mosquito vector is not present in this country.
• Dog lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum) is present in Europe and transmitted by eating slugs and snails.
• Canine Leishmaniasis is transmitted by sandflies which are not present in the UK. There is no risk of transmitting the disease to other pets via sandflies, however the disease could be transmitted to other dogs or owners by blood contamination. Therefore if a pet is showing any unusual signs of disease it is important that veterinary advice is sought and that travel history is questioned.

A: The UK is currently in discussion with the European Commission with regard to tapeworm treatment requirements for pets entering the UK.

Retaining tapeworm controls in the UK is proportionate and scientifically justified on the basis of the disease risk, and the likelihood and impact of the disease if it were to become established in the UK.

A: Human infection by the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm results in a serious chronic disease, alveolar echinococcosis, with symptoms similar to those of liver cancer. This disease is increasing across the EU and the European Commission has accepted that we have a strong scientific and legal case to maintain freedom from this tapeworm.

The current tick controls are targeted mainly at maintaining freedom from the dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The risk assessment indicates that, though there remains a risk of introduction of this tick, there is a negligible risk of it being able to establish in the wider environment under current climate conditions. The risks from other tick species introducing infections such as Mediterranean Spotted Fever into the UK are difficult to quantify. Although ticks which are capable of transmitting the disease may enter the UK via pet movements, there are other routes by which the ticks can enter (for example on people or vehicles).

Therefore there is not strong scientific evidence to support the argument that such controls would be fully effective, justified and proportionate in mitigating the risk of disease incursion.

Pet owners may of course continue to routinely treat their pets against a range of tick borne diseases as part of their routine health management, especially if travelling abroad with their animals. Veterinarians are advised to discuss with their clients the appropriate course of action.

A: Guidance on pre-exposure (prophylactic) immunisation is available from the Health Protection Agency.

A: The UK does not have a policy of compulsory vaccination. Each individual case should be considered and advice given to the owner accordingly based upon where the animal is travelling to, if it is coming back to the UK, how often it travels and clinical history. The veterinarian presented with the animal needs to assess the case and advise accordingly. The risk of animals resident in the UK contracting rabies remains very low (almost negligible), but can increase when travelling abroad. A dog may interact with other animals/wildlife when abroad, while an indoors cat will not. In summary, a proper assessment should be done so the vet can advice the pet owner if a rabies vaccination programme is adequate or not for the particular animal / circumstance.

A: Information on the clinical signs of rabies infection is available from:

• http://animalhealth.defra.gov.uk/managing-disease/notifiable-disease/rabies.html
• http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Media_Center/docs/pdf/Disease_cards/RABIES-EN.pdf
• http://www.oie.int/en/animal-health-in-the-world/rabies-portal/
• http://www.who-rabies-bulletin.org/

A: When rabies is suspected it should be reported immediately to the duty vet at your nearest AHVLA office. Advice will be given about what steps to take next. The suspected animal should be kept isolated and restrained as well as any other animals that may be in the practice and which have had contact with the suspect case. A veterinary officer will normally come to the practice immediately and will manage the investigation.

A: The British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation has produced useful advice for travellers about the risks and prevention of some common diseases when travelling with pets:
http://www.bva.co.uk/public/documents/BVA_AWF_Taking_your_pets_abroad.pdf

A:Tattoos can be accepted as a valid form of identification, in lieu of a microchip, provided that the tattoo was applied to the pet before 3rd July 2011 (this will be recorded in the passport or third country certificate).

The tattoo must be clearly readable and matched to the number in the passport / third country certificate.

A:Provided the pet has a valid passport and has been successfully blood tested, it can travel to and from an unlisted third country without the need for a three month wait after the date of the blood sample.

A: Pets from third countries will need to travel to the EU under a third country certificate. Once in the EU, owners will have the option of applying for an EU pet passport.

A:If the microchip is missing, it is necessary to fully repeat the process of preparing the pet.

If the microchip has failed, remove it and insert a new microchip (check that the new microchip can be read before inserting), recording the new microchip number in the passport. Also record in the passport the following: “New microchip inserted following failure of original, in accordance with Defra instructions.”

Return the faulty microchip to the manufacturer for identification. If the manufacturer is able to read, or otherwise identify the microchip, obtain a written record of the microchip’s identity.

A:One individual can travel with a maximum of five pets (dogs, cats and ferrets only). Ten pets travelling with two people (at least one of whom must be an adult, the second can be any age) is acceptable (as is 1:5 multiples of people to pets).

If a person is planning to travel with more than five animals to another EU Member State, OVs must contact the International Trade Centre for Exports to obtain the correct Export health certificate. The certificate could be used for example for working dogs, show animals or sporting events. The certificate is valid for four months or until the end of the rabies vaccination validity period stated in the passport. Valid passports are still required for each travelling animal in addition to the certificate.

A:Pets travelling to unlisted Third Countries that complied with the pre 1st January 2012 rules for re-entry into the UK may no longer do so if the blood sample was taken less than 30 days after vaccination. OVs should make sure they check this if people intend to travel to an unlisted country and come back to the UK afterwards.