Third Country Vet Certificate & booster shot?

Hi everyone,

Has anyone to have a rabies booster done before getting your stuff endorsed? I'm worried that this has made the process that much more complicated!

Since my cat has received his rabies booster shot, I called the Pet Travel Scheme Helpline to see how they wanted me to fill out the Third Country Vet Certificate. The line was terrible and from what I could make out they said that in Section 4, I had to enter the details of the NEW vaccine only.

I was worried that someone would need the record of the first vaccine so I mentioned that I had both rabies vaccination certificates from my vet, they said that would be okay. However, both the 1st and 2nd rabies vaccination certificates are computer generated. The receptionist said that there was no way to input all the extra info the guidance says we need: (George's microchip number, date of insertion and location of the microchip on the animal, manufacturer name of vaccine, serial number, lot number, batch/serial number, and lot expiration), therefore some of it was handwritten on them. Is this okay? If so, does this need to be in block capitals too?

Do we really also need ALL that on both rabies vaccination certificates? Seems very excessive, but hey I'll do whatever it takes!

Once I get this straightened out, I think I'll be set to this this stuff endorsed! I just am worried about pleasing my USDA vet, Continental, AND the Pet Scheme people!

 PETS Process In Detail ...........posted by equestrianerd ..........this post is very helpful and lots of added links that might help

I would call your USDA vet, but from my understanding of the process, Section 4 relates to the vaccine that was done with the bloodwork (i.e. the original vaccine). My USDA vet said that, in the event that I had to do a booster prior to getting the form endorsed by him, I would bring in that form and both rabies vaccinations and it would be fine.

And yes, put as much info on the rabies certificate as possible (handwriting should not be an issue). At a minimum, the animal's name and microchip # should go on there. I don't think you need some of the other info on the certificate itself (location of insertion, etc) since it's going on the EC 998 form anyway, but better safe than sorry.

It shouldn't be much more complicated with a booster, it just means you need to bring that extra paper (rabies certificate) along with the other forms.

Once the USDA vet signs off, PETS folks should be fine as long as you 1) have all the paperwork 2) have matching microchip numbers on everything/in your pet. Can't speak for Continental, but British Airways was fine with just a health certificate from my vet saying they were OK to fly, which I got when they had their tick/tapeworm treatment the day before travel.

Sorry about the late reply, equestrainerd and steffunny

Today, I actually received confirmation that my spouse visa was approved!!! So, I'm ready to conquer this Pets Scheme stuff as I'm anxious to see my husband.

I followed your advice and called the USDA. They have been so wonderful. The woman I spoke too didn't know the answer off hand, but promised to research it on the Defra website. When I got home from work I found that she emailed back and even scanned in the printed off pages from the website with little stars next to the relevant info.

According to Defra:

After an animal has been vaccinated, it must be given booster vaccinations to remain qualified for PETS. This must be done by the “Valid until” date on the animal’s EU pet passport, third country veterinary certificate or PETS certificate and recorded in section IV of the passport or third country official veterinary certificate and on the animal’s vaccination record.

Does this confirm that the booster info needs to be in section 4?

And yes, put as much info on the rabies certificate as possible (handwriting should not be an issue). At a minimum, the animal's name and microchip # should go on there.

Yes, this confused me as the guidance says:

Enter the following details in section IV of the animal’s passport or official third country veterinary certificate ... and vaccination record:

   1. its date of birth/age (can it be either one?)
   2. the microchip number, date of insertion and its location in the animal
   3. date of vaccination
   4. the vaccine manufacturer, product name and batch number
   5. the date by which the booster vaccination must be given (the “Valid until” date) (calculated by reference to the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet).

Continental said that they also need a health certificate. Do you know if that needs to be endorsed by the USDA as well?

Does this confirm that the booster info needs to be in section 4?

You can put both in if you want. In my case, my pets had been vaccinated with a 3-year vaccine in November 2008, and then a 1-year vaccine in May 2009 to start the PETS process. In Section 4 I put the info for the May 2009 vaccine (as that one was related to the bloodwork), and below section 4 I put "*Note: Also vaccinated November 2008, [serial #/batch info/etc], valid until November 2011". I included both rabies certificates in my paperwork.

Re: the guidance, they want the date of birth/age (it can be either one, if you don't know DOB just put the age, or make one up), location, etc, on the EC 998 form. I don't think that info also needs to go on the rabies certificate (but again, if you have room on it, feel free to write it in, it can't hurt).

Continental said that they also need a health certificate. Do you know if that needs to be endorsed by the USDA as well?

It depends. Call Continental and see. Most airlines just want a "fit to fly" type of health certificate which can be filled out by your regular vet when you do the tick/tapeworm bit. Another thread mentioned an international health certificate that the airline wanted endorsed by the USDA vet (in addition to the EC 998 form).

Thanks equestrianerd!

Thanks for the tip on the on section 4.

I called Continental and they said that the "fit to fly"/International health certificate does NOT need to be endorsed by the USDA. That's good to know. 

Now, I should probably decide which day I want to travel so I can make my booking with the airline then of course wait to get everything signed, etc. within 10 days of travel.

It's nice to see the finish line!

Now, I should probably decide which day I want to travel so I can make my booking with the airline then of course wait to get everything signed, etc. within 10 days of travel.

It's nice to see the finish line!

Unless you want/need to trek back to the vet a bunch, it's probably easiest just to get the fit to fly/health certificate when you're there doing tick/tapeworm anyway. The airlines don't seem to care how new that form is (i.e. it could be done 5 minutes pre-flight), just that it's no older than 10 days. Since you have to go in 1-2 days anyway, may as well kill two birds with one stone.

Of course! That's an excellent point. I will definitely take advantage of that!

But I will have to get the EC 998 form endorsed by the USDA before then, right?

I'm not sure, to be honest. I don't think it matters (i.e. the endorsement isn't required for the tick/tapeworm bit), but like the health certificate, it can't be any older than 4 months (but probably doesn't have any requirements as to how new it can be).

I'd recommend doing the USDA part earlier than the week of travel, though, so that you have time to sort out any possible paperwork issues (if any) beforehand and aren't scrambling around last-minute.

Yeah, good point. I would hate to be rushing around at the last minute anyway. I'll try to get an appointment to get my stuff endorsed soon.

Thanks again!