Further last minute information from DEFRA

THE UK PET TRAVEL SCHEME (PETS)

Further to our letter of 30th June announcing changes to the Pet Travel Scheme, I am writing to you with additional information about changes to the Scheme regarding the tapeworm treatment for pets and the movement of pets between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. I apologise for the late notification of these changes, but these issues have been under discussion at European level. I would also like to update you briefly on the new legislative framework for pet movements. 

Tapeworm treatment 
Under our current Pet Travel Scheme rules, dogs, cats and ferrets are required to be  treated against ticks and tapeworm 24-48 hours before they enter the UK. As our previous letter explained, the European Commission had given a strong indication that it would come forward with proposals that would enable the UK and other tapeworm free countries to retain tapeworm controls with a treatment window of 1-5 days. I can confirm that both the European Parliament and Council have now formally adopted these proposals meaning that from the 1st January 2012, tapeworm controls will apply to all pet dogs entering the UK. Under these rules, not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before its scheduled arrival time in the UK, all 
dogs must be treated against tapeworm and the treatment recorded in the EU pet passport or the third country official veterinary certificate.

Cats and ferrets will no longer require this treatment. There will also be no mandatory tick treatment before any pet enters the UK.

For further advice on these new rules, please visit our website:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/parasites/

Movement of pets from the Republic of Ireland to Great Britain
We do not currently require checks to be carried out on pets arriving in the UK from the Republic of Ireland although checks are carried out on pets coming from the rest of the EU and other countries and territories.

Under the EU pet movement system, all pet dogs, cats and ferrets moving between EU Member States must meet the same animal health rules. Therefore from 1st January 2012 the requirement is that all pets travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the UK should be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by a pet passport.

However as both the Republic of Ireland and the UK have had no indigenous rabies for many decades, compliance checks on pets travelling between the two countries will not be applied. Those travelling with pet animals should therefore not experience any change on the ground from the 1st January.

For pet travel requirements from the UK to the Republic of Ireland please visit the Republic’s Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine website:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets/introduction/

Legislative Framework
The Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011 will be laid before Parliament on the 9 December 2011. This legislation will revoke and replace existing pet legislation in England and Scotland (equivalent legislation is not in force in Wales) to enforce the revised import requirements that apply to pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) entering Great Britain from 1st January 2012. This legislation will be available to view on our website in due course once it is published by The Stationery Office.

If you require any further information on these changes please do not hesitate to contact us at pet.travel@defra.gsi.gov.uk
 
Yours faithfully 
Strategic Animal Health Policy 
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs