Travelling Abroad
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Changes to Pet Travel in the event of a ‘No-Deal’ Brexit
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has advised that should the UK leave the EU next year without a deal, there will be important implications for pet owners wishing to travel overseas with their pets from March 2019.
Pet owners will still be able to travel to Europe with their pet after the UK leaves the EU, whatever the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. However, in the event of no deal, they may need to take some additional steps to be able to travel with their pet to the EU.
If pet owners are planning to travel after 29 March 2019 the Government will recommend they contact their vet at least four months in advance to check what they need to do.
Those wishing to travel to the EU on 30 March 2019, for example, should discuss requirements with their vet as soon as possible and by 28 November 2018 at the latest.
The requirements for travel would include making sure that pets are effectively vaccinated against rabies before they travel. This involves having an up-to-date rabies vaccination and a blood test to demonstrate sufficient levels of rabies antibody.
The blood test would need to be carried out a minimum of 30 days after any initial rabies vaccination and a minimum of three months before their travel date. This means that pet owners will need to talk to their vet about health requirements in good time to make sure they are able to travel with their pet.
The Government has published further guidance for pet owners on its website.
DEFRA has made a short video for your information CLICK HERE TO WATCH.
Pet Passports & Travelling Abroad With Your Pet
At Norbury Pet Health Centre, we are able to deal with all of your pets travel requirements, from passports, exports certificates to advice or helping to make their journey less stressful.
What is the Pet Travel Scheme?
The Pet Travel Scheme was introduced to keep the UK free from rabies and certain other exotic diseases.
It allows:
* Pet dogs, cats and ferrets to enter the UK from recognised countries without quarantine as long as they meet certain rules.
* Pet owners in the UK, to travel with their dogs, cats and ferrets to other countries or territories, and return to the UK without the need for their pets to go into quarantine.
The rules changed on January 1st 2012. The new rules state that pets entering or re-entering the UK from other European countries must have the following
Microchip
rabies vaccination
The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is 21 days after the vaccination date. (If the vaccination is in two parts the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination.) Vaccinations MUST take place after microchipping to ensure no further waiting period for subsequent entries into the UK.
travel documents
You may need to apply for your pet’s documentation. For animals being prepared in an EU country, you should get an EU pet passport. If you are preparing your animal in a non-EU listed country or territory you will need to obtain an officail third country veterinary certificate (appart from Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland who also issue pet passports).
tapeworm treatment (dogs only)
The tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis can infect dogs whilst travelling abroad. Before entering the UK, all pet dogs (including assistance dogs) must be treated for tapeworm. The treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK.
travel arrangments
Your pet must enter the UK from a listed counrty or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.
The biggest change to the Pet Travel Scheme is that it is no longer manditory for your pet to have tick treatment before returning to the UK. Although this may be the case, it is still advisable to ensure your pet is protected against ticks when travelling due to the diseases they can transmit.
It is also important to remember that tick numbers can be higher in certain regions in the UK. There have also been recent reports in the veterinary press of dogs contracting tick born deseases who havent travelled abroad, so this may be something we will begin to see more of in the future.
The Pet Travel Scheme is designed to keep rabies, and other diseases out of the UK only if you are holidaying abroad or in the UK it is advisable to contact your vet to discuss the risks, and devise an effective parascite protective plan specifically for your pet.
further information
Always check up to date information by visiting the website of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) as part of your travel planning.
A: 1203A London Road
Norbury
London
SW16 4UY
E: info@nphc.co.uk
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