DEFRA/PETS Information: Third Country Vet Certificate Link

Here is the link to get the Third Country Vet Certificate

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/NCIE/iregs/animals/no_cn_hc.pdf

You can also get it here on the  DEFRA website.  It is at the bottom of the document.

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/pri/en/oj/dat/2004/l_065/l_06520040303en00130019.pdf

Also:  it must be printed on one sheet of paper (double sided).  It will not be accepted if it is on two sheets of paper

The serial number at the top of the certificate must be issued by a USDA certified (government) vet upon their approval of the Rabies Titre paperwork and the completion of the certificate up to the Tick and Tapeworm treatment.  The animal does not have to be present.

Recommended time line to have the USDA approval is 7-10 days before departure.  The clock on the 4 months grace period after the quarantine is up starts ticking the moment the serial number is issued. 

For Canada, here is the link for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for Exporting Animals to the UK

http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/export/petcom/ec_ce_uk_infoe.shtml

Other important information:  The tick and tapeworm treatments must be done 24-48 hours before departure.  Make sure that the vet writes out the date in full (not numerically) and writes the TIME in 24 hour format.  This is where most of the slip ups happen, according to the people at the animal reception centre at Heathrow.

FYI - Mine was not printed double sided and I had no problems clearing my cat in December. The USDA just added their seal to all the pages.

This is from the DEFRA factsheet.

"(b) Third country official veterinary certificate
This certificate can be issued by any vet in a non-EU listed country. It is
headed “Veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets entering the
European Community for non-commercial movements (Regulation (EC) No
998/2003)”. The certificate must be a single sheet in English and may also
contain a translation in another language. It must be completed in block letters
in the language of the EU country of entry or in English."

thanks for all the info!