EU pet travel scheme: changes from 29 December 2014

For more details please download this government PDF file.

Information for pet owners

Changes to the pet travel scheme will come into effect on 29 December 2014. This guidance explains what’s changing and why.

The changes are mainly designed to strengthen enforcement across the EU, increase levels of compliance and improve the security and traceability of the pet passport.

The changes give effect to a new EU pet travel Regulation (576/2013).

The pet travel scheme

The main requirements of the scheme will stay the same. All dogs, cats and ferrets travelling with their owner will still require:

• microchipping

• vaccination against rabies

• a blood test 30 days after vaccination (if returning or travelling from an unlisted third country)

• a pet passport issued by an authorised vet (or third country certificate issued by an official vet)

• a waiting period after primary vaccination and prior to travel: 21 days if travelling from another EU country or a listed third country
•  a waiting period following blood sampling: 3 months if travelling from for unlisted third countries
•  treatment against the EM tapeworm (dogs only)

 There are exceptions to some of these preparations in certain circumstances. If you are planning to travel with your pet you must read the detailed guidance at: www.gov.uk/pet-travel-information-for-pet-owners

For more details please download this government PDF file.