CHANGES TO PETS SCHEME

Changes to the Pet Travel Rules

Defra has announced today (30th June) that the rules for pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) entering the UK under the Pet Travel Scheme will change with effect from 1st January 2012. This is as a result of harmonisation of EU regulations.

It is important that vets are aware of these changes so that they can discuss these with owners.

The new requirements are shown on the BSAVA website

Pets entering the UK from an EU member state or a non-EU country listed in the EU regulations (see the Defra website - http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/countries/noneu-countries/) will still require a pet passport and rabies vaccination. However, they will no longer need a post-vaccination blood test, and the waiting period before entry will be reduced from 6 months to 21 days. Pets entering the UK from non-EU countries which are not listed in the EU regulations will be able to enter the UK from 1st January 2012 without a compulsory 6 month quarantine period providing they comply with the new requirements (See About the Rules)

What will happen now?
Under the new rules pets entering or re-entering the UK will continue to be checked to ensure they have complied with the new requirements. If these requirements have not been met, there are three options; the pet may be placed in quarantine, re-exported, or euthanised. Defra has stated that voluntary quarantine will remain an option for those not able to meet with the requirements (eg. those needing to travel at short notice).

Tick and Tapeworm treatment
Tick treatment will no longer be required as part of the Pet Travel Scheme. However, BSAVA strongly recommends that prophylactic tick treatment is continued.

The BVA and BSAVA have continued to lobby in Europe for additional controls to be maintained for tapeworms, which could introduce Echinococcus multilocularis to the UK - a significant public health concern. It is likely that tapeworm controls will be retained, and BSAVA will inform its members as soon as this information is released. In the meantime, BSAVA strongly recommends that tapeworm treatment is included in pet travel plans.

Support from BSAVA
BSAVA continues to promote responsible pet ownership, and the importance of a pre-travel consultation with a veterinary surgeon to discuss the hea lth and welfare issues of travelling abroad with a pet. BSAVA is in the process of creating useful information and resources for members. You can find out more online in the Pet Travel section of the website.

Looks like this will simplify things quite a bit. Doesn't look like the approved routes list has changed, so may not help a ton financially, but at least the length of time will be much shorter.

Looks like this will simplify things quite a bit. Doesn't look like the approved routes list has changed, so may not help a ton financially, but at least the length of time will be much shorter.

Yep :-) I find it interesting - a government organization making changes to rules that makes things...SIMPLER?! inconceivable! :-)

Yep :-) I find it interesting - a government organization making changes to rules that makes things...SIMPLER?! inconceivable! :-)

I know, shocking! I read through their checklist and went "so...where's the rest?"

I was going to start the process next week - to move sometime next year.  Would it be prudent to just carry on with the current scheme in case this changes again - or should I save my money and not get the titer done?

Figures they'd make it simpler just after we will have relocated. That's my luck! 

I was going to start the process next week - to move sometime next year.  Would it be prudent to just carry on with the current scheme in case this changes again - or should I save my money and not get the titer done?

Nope, I believe you'll still need the blood test, you just won't have to wait six months (just three months). Have a look at the website and click under "rules from 1st January 2012" and you'll have a better idea of what has changed. Which is not much really.

Nope, I believe you'll still need the blood test, you just won't have to wait six months (just three months). Have a look at the website and click under "rules from 1st January 2012" and you'll have a better idea of what has changed. Which is not much really.

Looks like 3 weeks? Unless I'm misreading, it looks like you still have to do microchip first, then vaccine. It doesn't actually mention bloodwork, but does mention needing the third country certificate, which would include that. After that, it just talks about a 21-day wait (which would likely pass while waiting for bloodwork results anyway).

Looks like 3 weeks? Unless I'm misreading, it looks like you still have to do microchip first, then vaccine. It doesn't actually mention bloodwork, but does mention needing the third country certificate, which would include that. After that, it just talks about a 21-day wait (which would likely pass while waiting for bloodwork results anyway).

I'm getting my info from this (granted its on the BSAVA website which is not the same as DEFRA but I haven't had a real thorough read through of everything yet so I could be wrong!):

Dogs and cats entering the UK from a non-EU country not listed in the EU regulations will be allowed to enter the UK through approved routes without entering a 6 month period of quarantine – provided that they are microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, blood sampled at least 30 days after vaccination to confirm an adequate serological response, then waiting a further 3 months.

Why is the requirement for quarantine being removed?
Defra state that scientific evidence suggests the new regulations are proportionate to the risk of rabies being introduced into the UK. Vaccination and a confirmed serological response ensure that the individual animal is protected against rabies. The 3 month wait is in place to reduce the chance of entry of an animal into the UK which had been vaccinated while incubating the disease.

We have been working under the current scheme but may not fly our dog until next year (depends on if we can find a rental that will take her).  Anyway- we didn't wait 30 days from the vaccine for the blood draw (because we knew she would be fine and defra only said you had to have a pass) so does that mean the titer won't be valid and we have to do another?  

Ok-- I just looked on the titer form and under vaccination history they put her old vaccine (12/2008 good for 3 years) instead of her new one (1/2011) so we technically had her vaccinated, waited, got the blood draw and now just got a booster in 1/2011??  

Any ideas?? Freaking out a bit!!!

tmfigy -  Are you coming from the US?  Was the microchip done before anything else - even the original vaccine in 2008? 

If so I think are you will be fine.  The website says the USA is an approved non-EU country so it looks like the blood draw isn't needed after 2012.  On the third country vet certificate there is still a field for it but it says "when required."  Not really applicable to your case but what I am not sure of - will the USDA vet sign off on the form without the titer?

It will be a lot cheaper for people like me who went to three (3) vets in the US to sort this all out, ended up having to leave before my cat, help pay a friend to take care of him, pay for a pet shipper, etc.

My cat has had the initial rabies vaccine no fewer that 3 times, and I think that the first one even gave a booster before I figured out they were doing it wrong.  I know I probably have less to complain about than the people who've had to pay for quarantine, but this would have been nice years ago.

Glad it's going to be a bit easier for people from now on, and American vets might actually understand the process better.

This is good news - If I need my animals here 3 months is WAY better then 6!

Question...If they were micro chipped and given rabies shot now and blood in 30 days...could you wait till Jan to send them as you did all the stuff they wanted?

Question...If they were micro chipped and given rabies shot now and blood in 30 days...could you wait till Jan to send them as you did all the stuff they wanted?

Should be able to. As it stands now, you can delay as long as you want once the 6-month waiting period is over, provided you keep the rabies vaccination up to date.

Should be able to. As it stands now, you can delay as long as you want once the 6-month waiting period is over, provided you keep the rabies vaccination up to date.

Good to know!
thanks!