"Pet Passports" The Pet Travel Scheme

What is it?

The Pet Travel Scheme is the new alternative to quarantine to allow pets meeting certain conditions to avoid spending the six months in kennels on return to the UK. The pilot scheme starts on February 28^th 2000. If this is successful, then the scheme may be extended.

At present, the scheme only applies to cats and dogs.

Which countries can my pet visit?

At the moment, the following countries are covered by the pilot scheme.

Notes

1. France excludes French Overseas Departments and Territories
2. Norway excludes Spitzbergen
3. Portugal includes the Azores and Madeira
4. Spain includes the Canary Islands but excludes Ceuta and Melilla

Which ports and airports can I use?

The following routes have been confirmed.

• Dover sea crossings: P&O Stena, Sea France and Hoverspeed
• Portsmouth sea crossings: P&O European and Britanny Ferries
• Eurotunnel Shuttle Services (not Euro-Star)
• British Midland is currently the only airline operator available

What will I need to do to take my pet abroad with me?

• Microchipping
  Your pet will need to have a valid Microchip implanted. This must be done before a Rabies vaccination is given. We can do this for you at any time.

• Rabies Vaccination
  In addition to its current vaccinations and boosters, your pet will also require a Rabies vaccination, to prevent the disease being caught abroad. The vaccine can be given after 3 months of age, provided a microchip has been implanted. As the failure rate (for the blood test) can be between 5% and 20%, it is recommended that your pet has a course of two vaccinations two weeks apart. As with all other vaccinations, regular boosters are also essential.

• Blood test
  To ensure that the vaccination has worked fully, a blood test is required. This is ideally 30 days after the first Rabies vaccination. It may take up to a month for the result to be determined. Any pet which does not show satisfactory protection from Rabies will require a further vaccination and blood test. Provided that regular Rabies booster vaccinations are given, there should be no need for a further blood test.

  NB If your pet is blood sampled after the pilot scheme begins, you will need to wait a further six months from the successful result before your pet can travel under the scheme. This 'six month rule' does not apply to any animals blood sampled before the scheme starts, even if the result has not returned from the laboratory.

• PETS Re-entry Certificate
  The PETS Re-entry Certificate confirms that all of these procedures have been completed, and that your pet is fit to travel. It will be issued by your Veterinary Surgeon. This is the 'pet passport'.

• Other certification and health checks
  Some European countries require additional certification and health checks before an animal is allowed to travel. We will be able to advise you of the requirements for your destination country. Please note that if you are, for example, driving to Germany with your dog then you will need to satisfy the requirements of all countries that you travel through. You will also need to fill in your own certificate, stating that your pet has not been outside any of the PETS countries for six months before re-entry to the United Kingdom. Please note that false certification is a criminal offence.

  

  Export Health Certificates are required for the following countries.

  France	Gibraltar	Greece	Iceland	Italy	Liechtenstein
  Netherlands	Norway	Portugal	Spain	Sweden	Switzerland

  You will need to contact your local MAFF Animal Health Division or the PETS Helpline for information on obtaining the required documentation.

  A separate Import Permit is also required for the following countries.

  Gibraltar

  Iceland

  Sweden

  This document cannot by issued by MAFF. You will need to contact the appropriate foreign authorities for assistance.

  A separate certificate confirming Rabies vaccination is required for the following countries.

  Austria

  Belgium

  Denmark

  Germany

  Luxembourg

• Worming
  24-48 hours before returning to the UK, your pet will have to be wormed, to prevent it bringing Echinococcus multilocularis into this country. It must also be treated for ticks and lice. This must be performed and certified by a veterinary surgeon abroad. It is also advisable to have your pet wormed and treated for ticks and lice before leaving, although this is not compulsory. If you are only taking a day trip or weekend break, then the worming and tick treatments will need to be done in this country instead.

• It is very important to make sure that you have done all that is required to meet the conditions of the Pet Travel Scheme and that you have all of the paperwork to hand, otherwise your pet may be refused entry to your destination country or have to go into quarantine on return to the UK.