Pet travel
On this page find information on balancing pet travel and disease control - one of the British Veterinary Association's (BVA) current issues
Background
Pet travel within Europe and from third countries is covered by European Regulation (EC No 998/2003). This details requirements such as blood testing, quarantine, and tick and tapeworm treatments.
The UK, Ireland and three other Member States (Finland, Sweden and Malta) currently have derogations from EU pet travel rules to allow for additional controls to protect against rabies, ticks and tapeworms. These derogations will end on 31 December 2011.
Defra announced in June 2011 that new rules on pet travel will be introduced from 1 January 2012. The changes will mean that the rules on rabies vaccination for entry into the UK will now be in line with the rest of Europe.
From 1st January dogs, cats and pet ferrets entering the UK from an EU or ‘listed’ third country must:
- be microchipped
- be vaccinated against rabies
- have waited 21 days after vaccination before entering
- be treated for tapeworm 24 to 120 hours (1-5 days) before entry (dogs only)
- have an EU Pet Passport.
The current requirement to carry out a blood test followed by a six month wait before entry into the UK will no longer be required. In addition, pets entering from a non-listed third country from 1st January must pass a blood test 30 days after vaccination followed by a three-month wait.
Tick treatments will no longer be required under the Scheme. However, the BVA and BSAVA strongly advise that prophylactic tick treatment is continued.
Tapeworm treatment must be administered to dogs, by a veterinary surgeon, 24 to 120 hours (1-5 days) before entering one of the listed countries which are EM-free (the UK, Ireland, Finland and Malta). Although EM is relatively benign in dogs, the resulting disease in humans – alveolar echinococcosis – is an invasive, cancer-like cystic state of the parasite, and is invariably fatal if not treated. It is therefore vital to maintain tapeworm controls to keep this serious zoonotic disease out of the UK.
The BVA view
The BVA and BSAVA issued a press release regarding the changes to the pet travel rules announced in June 2011. The BVA believes that it is vital that any controls on animal movements are proportionate to the risk of introducing rabies, and notes that due to a highly successful vaccination programme in wildlife in mainland Europe, research carried out by Defra reveals that the risk of introducing rabies under the new rules is very low.
The BVA and BSAVA believe that additional controls should be maintained for tapeworms.
The BVA and BSAVA lobbied for additional controls to be maintained for tapeworms and issued another joint press release when the announcement of the agreed tapeworm controls was made.
What the BVA has done
- provided a briefing for BVA members
on the changes to pet travel rules, an advice note on pre-exposure rabies vaccination guidelines and some example client scenarios (this is currently being updated, please check back soon).
- the BVA and BSAVA lobbied in Europe for additional controls to be maintained for tapeworms, which could introduce Echinococus multilocularis (EM) to the UK – a significant public health concern. In July 2011 the BVA welcomed the European Commission announcement of proposals that would prevent the spread of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis to EM-free countries. The Commission adopted a regulation that requires pre-movement treatment for dogs travelling to listed Member States that are free from the tapeworm (ie the UK, Ireland, Finland and Malta). The European Council and European Parliament agreed the Commission proposals and the decision was announced in November 2011.
- in March 2010 the BVA welcomed the European Parliament vote in favour of the amendments to the regulation
- in November 2009 the BVA successfully lobbied MEPs on the ENVI Committee in support of the proposed extension to the transitional arrangements - here is the supporting BVA/BSAVA briefing document.
- in November 2009 the BVA supported the adoption of the FVE opinion on the amendments to the pet movement regulation
- at BVA Congress in September 2009 a debate took place entitled Pets and Politics. The speakers were Helene Klein from the European Commission and Dr Dilys Morgan from the Health Protection Agency
- the BVA in conjunction with the BSAVA held a seminar on the 3rd April 2009, entitled “PETS or pests? – balancing pet travel and disease control”. The following recordings of the presentations are available for download:
More information