Easier to bring dogs & cats into Britain from Jan 2012

[BGD]

I don't know if the changes in the rules from 1.1.12 are widely reported in the UK press, but I saw this report in the Spanish press today:-

 

 

Dog and cat owners will find it cheaper and easier to travel to the UK with their pets when new rules are introduced at the start of next year.

The UK will harmonise its pet movement rules with the rest of the European Union from 1 January 2012, bringing the UK's Pet Travel Scheme into line with the most recent science.

 

The UK will maintain its high level of protection against animal diseases after the changes, which have the potential to save pet owners around £7 million in fees.

 

Forcing pets to spend six months in quarantine, a practice dating from the 1800s, is no longer necessary because of vastly improved rabies vaccines and treatments.

 

All pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies. Pets from the EU will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days before they travel.

 

The changes will ensure the risk of rabies coming to the UK remains extremely low. It's estimated that the new rules mean there would be one case of rabies in a pet in the UK once every 211 years, with the possibility of a person dying from rabies obtained from a pet once in every 21,000 years. The Health Protection Agency considers Spain a 'no risk' country for rabies.

 

Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelman, said:

"The UK's quarantine system was designed to combat the threat of rabies in the 19th century and has now been left far behind by scientific advances. What is needed is a simpler, evidence-based system for protecting the UK from rabies which recognises the actual risk to pets and pet owners. The EU's pet movement scheme has been working very well for nearly a decade, and it makes sense for us to have similar rules."

 

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, said:

"Rabies is a very serious human disease and the rabies-free status of the UK must be protected. The EU pet travel rules have been successful in preventing any cases of rabies occurring in legally moved pets since the scheme started, so harmonising the UK's rules with those of the EU will make it easier for those who wish to travel with their pets."

 

The UK will continue to protect the public against the risk of serious exotic tapeworm infections and is pressing to retain tapeworm controls for pets entering the UK. The government has been discussing with the European Commission the most appropriate form of tapeworm controls for dogs, to ensure the UK continues to be protected from Echinococcus multilocularis.

 

The Commission has recently indicated that its proposals, expected shortly, would enable the UK and other tapeworm-free countries to retain tapeworm controls, with a requirement that animals be treated between one and five days before returning to the UK. Dog tapeworm is common in southern Spain.

 

Tick treatment for pet animals returning to the UK will no longer be required. All pet owners travelling abroad with their animals should discuss with their vets the use of treatments, including those designed to control ticks as part of good animal health practice.

 

Detailed information on what pet owners and vets need to do before bringing a pet to the UK can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel or obtained from the UK helpline +44 (0)870 241 1710.

 

 

Entry rules for pets entering the UK from the EU:

 

 

 

 

What has to be done:

 

a )Now

 

b) From 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[starvin marvin]

Thanks for the information . I guess we'll still need to visit a vet prior to return to the UK, and therefore pay a fee for the vet to check the animal over and sign/date/time the pet passport to say the animal is fit to travel.

[HWO]

starvin marvin - 2011-07-05 8:18 PM

 

Thanks for the information . I guess we'll still need to visit a vet prior to return to the UK, and therefore pay a fee for the vet to check the animal over and sign/date/time the pet passport to say the animal is fit to travel.

 

According to the website mentioned in the first post our Lords and Masters in Euroland have still to make their minds up on that. Lets hope it it will be dropped. The couple of days spend in Northern France is to my mind a real pain in the bum

HWO

[Guest Tracker]

I wonder if our pets will be allowed to have a certified tapeworm treatment by a UK vet prior to leaving the UK?

 

If treatmant details were then entered onto the pet passport it would save a lot of messing about providing re-entry into the UK is within the lifespan of the treatment?

 

Perhaps that is just to simple to be acceptable?

[David Dwight]

It appers the only difference is no need for the Tick treatment. But as the majority of pet owners use a Spot-on type product the tick treatment will still be done.

 

[Whiskeymac]

Thanks for the heads up on this.  Clearly the return to base requirements are not yet set out.  In searching I found this useful site which I will flag up for future update.

 

http://www.dogtravelblog.co.uk/important-pet-travel-news-from-defra-new-pet-travel-rules-for-2012/

 

Excuse text for hyperlink but using the "Insert a Web Link" icon isn't working for me.

 

 

 

[Mel B]

I really hope that we don't have to keep visiting a vet each time we return to the UK, it's a flipping nuisance and, although we have found nice vets who are very reasonably priced, it is still a chore.

 

If this all goes as we hope, I wonder what will happen at the Ferry ports and Eurotunnel on the return leg though, and whether they'll still insist on charging the extortionate £30 a dog (assuming they still check the passports)?

[derek500]

The factsheet from Defra is quite confusing. The checklist from Jan 2012 has these requirements.

 

PART A Entry to the UK from other EU Member States and

approved non-EU countries:

For your pet to enter the UK from these countries, you must answer ‘yes’ to the

following questions:

• Is it microchipped?

• Is your pet currently vaccinated against rabies?

• Was it vaccinated after it was microchipped?

• Have you got an EU Pet Passport or Official Veterinary Health Certificate from

your vet certifying the microchip and vaccination?

• Have 21 days passed since it was vaccinated?

• Are you travelling into the UK with your pet on an approved route?

 

So if you only have the Health certificate (point 4), you won't have a record of tick/tapeworm treatment, that's recorded on the passport if it's still required.

 

Tick and Tapeworm treatment

Requirements for tapeworm treatment are to be confirmed, so you are advised to check

the Defra website prior to travel. Tick and tapeworm treatment is still advised. It is best

practice, and best for the health of you and your pet, to treat your pet for ticks and

tapeworm before returning to the UK. Consult your vet for further advice.

 

Great news if taking a dog to and from the UK will only cost £15. ( e.g. P&O France > UK, Norfolkline UK > France).

[maggyd]

While in the waiting room at Marquise a couple of weeks ago we were talking to a young man with a spaniel who was from H.Ms Customs working in Calais, he told us that in Jan next year we wouldnt need to visit the Vet before returning to the U.K. but he couldnt give us any more details than that, so we will have to keep an eye on the defra site and wait for details.

 

As I understand it you still have to keep the rabies jab up to date so wether they will be checking that along with our passports we will have to see how they work it, it is in our own interest though to make sure we still Frontline and worm the dogs as Im sure all responsible dog owners do anyway.

[Usinmyknaus]

So they'll be coming over here, getting priority for kennels and cat baskets, taking jobs as guard dogs and mousers........

 

8-) ;-)

 

Bob (lol)

[derek500]

maggyd - 2011-07-17 11:02 PM

 

While in the waiting room at Marquise a couple of weeks ago we were talking to a young man with a spaniel who was from H.Ms Customs working in Calais, he told us that in Jan next year we wouldnt need to visit the Vet before returning to the U.K. but he couldnt give us any more details than that, so we will have to keep an eye on the defra site and wait for details.

 

As I understand it you still have to keep the rabies jab up to date so wether they will be checking that along with our passports we will have to see how they work it, it is in our own interest though to make sure we still Frontline and worm the dogs as Im sure all responsible dog owners do anyway.

 

Looking at the Defra site it appears that the compulsory tick treatment is going, but it looks like the tapeworm treatment is staying.

 

“It is important to continue to protect the public against the risk of serious exotic tapeworm infections and the government is pressing to retain our tapeworm controls for pets entering the UK. The wider public health risks from exotic tick-borne infections and the need for tick controls for pets entering the UK will be kept under review.”

 

The UK has been discussing with the European Commission the most appropriate form of tapeworm controls for dogs, to ensure the UK continues to be protected from Echinococcus multilocularis. The Commission has recently indicated that its proposals, expected shortly, would enable the UK and other tapeworm-free countries to retain tapeworm controls, with a requirement that animals be treated between one and five days before returning to the UK.

 

Interesting that it may be changing to one to five days. This suits us fine. As regular readers may know we always do the 'right' thing and have our dog 'treated' before we start our journey from Spain to the UK, as surely it's better he's protected throughout the journey?

 

To avoid 'double dosing', which isn't advisable, our vet post dates the passport so we comply with the current 24-48 hour window (Sweden has always had the five day rule).

 

Good for weekenders too, as they can have the treatment done in the UK before they leave, rather than as soon as they arrive in France.

 

http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/06/30/new-rules-pet-passports/