Some changes to the EU pet travel scheme come into effect on 29 December 2014. The changes aim to strengthen enforcement across the EU and improve the security and traceability of pet passports.
We’ve outlined the main changes below and given links to more information.
New-style pet passports
A new-style pet passport is being introduced — but if you already have a passport for your pet, you don’t have to get a new one. Existing passports will remain valid for the lifetime of your pet or until all the treatment spaces are filled.
The new passport has laminated strips covering the pages containing your pet’s details, microchip information and rabies vaccination entries, to help prevent anyone tampering with this information once it’s been entered by the vet. There’s also a page for the vet who issued the passport to enter their contact details, to make it easier to contact them if anything goes wrong.
Rabies vaccinations
New minimum age: from 29 December your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before it can be vaccinated against rabies. This will help prevent very young pets being moved across the EU.
‘Valid from’ date: you must wait 21 days from the date of your pet’s primary rabies vaccination before it can travel (the day of vaccination counts as day 0, not day 1). In a new-style pet passport the vet will enter the ‘valid from’ date in the primary vaccination entry.
More than five pets
If you’re travelling within the EU and have more than five pets you’ll need to comply with some additional rules (known as the Balai Directive):
- Travel from a registered premises — this can be your home, with evidence (eg vet records) that it’s where you and your pets have been living
- Use an authorised animal transporter — a Defra Type 2 authorised haulier with Freight Transport Association (FTA) approval, such as Animalcouriers
- Register the movement on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES)
Exception: you won’t need to comply with these additional rules if the pets are registered for a show, competition or sporting event, and are more than six months old.
Clearer definition of cat, dog and ferret
The only species of pet animal that can travel under the EU pet travel scheme are:
- Canis lupis familiaris — domestic dog
- Felis silvestris catus — domestic cat
- Mustela putorius furo — ferret
This change is designed to prevent wild animals being moved under rules designed for pet travel, and may affect hybrid animals, such as Bengal and Savannah cats and Wolfdogs. Owners of hybrid animals should get advice from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) (part of Defra) or local in-country equivalent before travel.
More information
For more information, see:
thanks for the information, fortunately the “old” passports are still valid. Is it still claimed that you have to do this titer-test after the rabies vaccination or is the vaccination enough?
Yes, it is a relief the old passports are still valid. The change to the look is to make them harder to forge/change and we hope that works out going forward. No, you don’t need to have the rabies blood test anymore, it is simply enough to have the test and then wait 21 days before travelling – so much easier!
I am needing to have an English bulldog puppy shipped to the US , I thought they could fly at 8 weeks . I need help with this please .
Hi Michael, if you need help with regulations, please drop an email to ask@animalcouriers.com – our air specialist will be able to help.
Gosh, EU is always ahead of the USA in these matters…very interesting info…
The EU is nothing if not keen on rules and regs but they are, most of the time, a good thing when it comes to the movement of pets and livestock!
Sheila has me wondering what sort of passports (if any) the USA provides for our pets traveling overseas. The only possibility Sissy has of going into foreign parts is Canada or Mexico, so I doubt she’d need more than proof of vaccinations, unless things have changed since the days I traveled with my first dog back in the 70s.
There isn’t such a thing as a US pet passport. Sissy would be able to travel easily to Europe after various tests and forms were completed 😉 The idea of the passport is to make it easier for people to take their pets on holiday or with them when they move around the EU.
Thank you for sharing these changes with us. I shipped one of my puppies to the UK and I’m so glad everything went smoothly.
People do need to be warned in plenty of time before the changes come in. Glad you had no problems!
I feel for owners of Bengal,and Savannah cats, and Wolf dogs. It will not be funny if these individuals can not take their pet wherever they choose to move. Lots of new rules for sure but they were made with specific purposes in mind.
It does seem unfair that they’re not recognised as breeds. It’s not a blanket ban but it does make moving with them considerably harder.
It seems strange to include ferrets, but not rabbits and guinea pigs.
It’s important for anyone travelling with pets to check the latest rules first.
Exactly why we publish it on the blog so it’s easily found when searching. It can be very confusing if you’re contemplating moving for the first time – and the rules change all the time so you need to check again even if you’ve moved pets before!
Ferrets are included in the passport scheme as they can contract and pass on rabies so need to be inoculated against it.
Oh wow, this is such helpful information for those needing it. Interesting info.
We do find that if we post this kind of info on the blog, people who need it can find it more easily.
Hi Annie there are some serious changes there. Do you think they wil improve transport of pets or bog things down? I hope for improvement 😉
Nice passports too by the way!
Sherri-Ellen x0x0
We’re hoping the changes will mean that abuse of the pet passport scheme is reduced (altering / forging passports) so all in all, it’s probably a good thing. How the changes are enforced will be interesting to see 😉
Hi, I wish to have my westie travel to the UK from the Algarve around the beginning of Feb. Her yearly vacs and rabbies jab are due in May. What do I do? Thanks.
Hi Linda, thanks for your message. Best thing to do is to drop en email to ask@animalcouriers.com with these details and the pick up and drop off addresses. Someone from the road department will be in touch.
All the best, Animalcouriers
EU is ahead… Thank you for the great info!
It would be good if we could all sing from the same song sheet! Of course, there are many reasons why each country has to keep on top of their own issues.
It would… Thank you for sharing your stories and insights!
Hi I have a 2 year old Shitzu and we have a small holiday home in Malaga Spain we are pensioners but haven’t been able to have a holiday there because it is around £400-£500 one way for the dog we live in Birmingham UK but I was told by a friend in Spain that they travel to and from Spain to Germany with there dog it cost 65 euros each way a big difference to £400 I don’t understand it because we are also in the EU do you know why there is such a difference I am desperate to have a holiday but cannot go without my dog can you give me any advise on this matter so we can go to spain for my husbands 75 th birthday any advice would will be most welcome to us. Many Thanks Mrs K Newton. (Kathy)
Hi Kathy, we understand your frustration but animals flying into or out of the UK have to travel as manifested cargo – you cannot travel with them in the cabin or as excess baggage. We could offer you a place for your Shitzu on one of our regular road trips which would be much cheaper than the air equivalent. If you’re interested in finding out more, please do send an email to ask@animalcouriers.com
All the best, Animalcouriers
It must be hard keeping up with all the changes in legislation especially for countries that change the rules quite frequently
It’s a bit of a nightmare but we do at least have good contacts at Defra and can talk things through with them when we feel there’s a lack of clarity.
So you all are not much different from the US… Regulated to no end!
True but it’s the animals that are regulated more than the humans 😀
Hi. S friend of mine in Paris wants me to take ownership of a capuchin monkey. Is it ok to transport it to me in west Yorkshire and approx how much would it be thanks Adele
Hi Adele, We suggest that you check the authenticity of the monkey’s paperwork. If it is genuine, you might need local council permission; so speaking to DEFRA is your first step (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs). Once you know that you have permission to import your animal and all necessary paperwork, please do get in contact with us at ask@animalcouriers.com
I will move to Malta and want to take my dog (20kgs) and cat (4.5Kgs) with me and I m still studing all the possibilities, preferable to take them by roads to avoid stress on the plane :)) Is it possible to know if you can make the route Barreiro (close to Lisbon) to Malta and roughly how much can it cost? Can you please email me to …. Thanks in advance :)))
regards
Soledade
Hi Soledade, thanks for your comments. It is certainly possible to move pets to Malta by road and sea – see our posts on previous trips https://animalcouriers.wordpress.com/?s=malta&submit=Search
Please drop an email to ask@animalcouriers.com with your requirements, animal sizes and types, and when you would need the service. Someone from the road department will be in touch.
All the best, Animalcouriers