Important changes to the Pet Travel Scheme

Changes to Pet Travel Scheme

Defra have announced changes to the Pet Travel Scheme, which will take effect on 1 January 2012.

Pets travelling from France will no longer need to be blood tested after they have been vaccinated against rabies. They will only have to wait 21 days following their rabies vaccination before they can enter the UK, rather than waiting six months as they do now.

There will be no mandatory tick treatment before pets enter the UK, and the current tapeworm controls may differ slightly (details are still awaited from the European Commission).

The proposed changes to the controls on rabies are proportionate to the disease risks involved and are scientifically justified. Since the UK Pet Travel Scheme was introduced, the likelihood of a human case of rabies in Europe has substantially reduced as a result of an effective and ongoing programme to reduce the disease in the domestic and wild animal populations of EU Member States, together with improvements in the accessibility to rabies vaccination and post-exposure treatment. There has not been one reported case of rabies in the EU associated with the legal movement of pets under the EU pet movement system since it was introduced, with many hundreds of thousands of pet movements having taken place during that time.

These revised rules will deliver substantial benefits to pet owners, making it easier and cheaper for the people who travel from the UK with their pets (around 100,000) each year. They will also provide UK citizens the same level of free movement with pet animals which other EU citizens are allowed.

When the rules change on the 1 January 2012 efforts will continue to be made to ensure that every pet arriving in the country is checked to ensure that it meets the EU requirements, regardless of where it arrives from, and the private quarantine sector is expected to retain a vital role in dealing with non-compliant animals.

Stringent penalties remain in place for those that breach the law by smuggling animals into the country or by knowingly using false or misleading information/documentation.

NOTE:

 “Whilst this potentially represents a significant cost saving for dog owners, it could lead to serious health problems if owners stop treating their dogs for ticks and tapeworms. The Pet Travel Scheme was originally set up to protect human health but it is also vital to ensure that owners continue to protect their dogs’ health by carrying out both of these treatments. 

Tapeworms and ticks can lead to serious illness in dogs – illnesses which are not currently found in the UK. To this end the Kennel Club will be producing help and advice to dog owners whilst continuing to discuss this issue with Defra.”

(Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club)

Entry rules for pets entering the UK from the EU and listed non-EU countries:

 

What has to be done	Now	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)	Under consideration at European level

There is also an equivalent of the RSPCA in France called the SPA.  Click HERE to visit the website and find your local centre.