Transportul cateilor si pisicilor in si din Anglia-partea I-a
Introduction
European Regulation 998/2003 took effect on 3 July 2004. It sets out the rules for pet animals travelling between European Union (EU) countries and into the EU from other countries.
This fact sheet contains advice on the veterinary requirements for preparing dogs (including guide and hearing dogs) and cats (“pets”) to travel under the Regulation. It replaces “Advice to veterinary surgeons in GB: dogs and cats” dated March 2005.
There is a separate fact sheet for vets on the preparation of ferrets under the Regulation (dated October 2005).
Defra, in conjunction with the Devolved Authorities, also produces fact sheets for pet owners travelling with their dogs and cats, ferrets and pet rabbits and rodents to and from other EU countries, and from non-EU countries to the UK. Please advise your clients to get the appropriate fact sheets from one of the Defra, Scottish Executive or NAWDEPC contact points in part 4.
PART 1. THE RULES
To re-enter the UK without quarantine from a country listed in Annex A, a pet must, in this order, be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and blood tested. It must also be issued with an EU pet passport and treated against ticks and tapeworms. These procedures are explained in part 2.
For pets travelling from the UK to other countries see part 3.
There are no requirements for pets travelling directly between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
The 6 month rule for entering the UK.
An animal may not enter or re-enter the UK under PETS until 6 calendar months have passed from the date that the blood sample which gave a satisfactory test result was taken. For example, if a blood sample is taken on 1 January, the animal can enter the UK from 1 July. Pets require only one satisfactory blood test and 6 month wait provided the subsequent rabies booster vaccinations are given by the required date.
Rules on travelling to the UK and veterinary procedures in other countries are explained in the fact sheets on dogs and cats for pet owners.
The rules are to protect human and animal health and to reduce the risk of importing rabies into the UK. Animals not meeting all the rules must be licensed into quarantine.
What vets can do
Any registered veterinary surgeon can microchip, vaccinate and arrange blood testing and record the details of microchipping and the vaccination in the passport. They can also carry out, record and verify the tick and tapeworm treatment. In Great Britain, only Panel 2 Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVI) may complete the boxes in section IV of the passport headed “Authorised Veterinarian” to verify the details given about the rabies vaccination. Panel 2 LVIs must also complete all details required in section V on the blood test. The guidance accompanying the passport explains these responsibilities in more detail.
PART 2. PROCEDURES
(a) Microchip identification
We recommend that the microchip conforms to ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. If it doesn’t, it may be impossible to read it when the animal is checked in another PETS country. The pet owner is then required to provide a microchip reader to enable it to be read.
Reading a microchip
We recommend that you obtain a suitable microchip reader before offering the PETS service to clients so that animals can be properly identified when the following procedures are carried out. If using a client’s microchip reader, test it first against an inanimate object to ensure it does not give a reading.
If a microchip cannot be read, you should not proceed until the problem is resolved. If you cannot read a microchip, contact your local Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO) to ask if they have a different type of reader you can borrow.
Fitting a microchip
An animal must be microchipped before it is vaccinated against rabies. Check that the microchip can be read before and after it has been fitted. Record the microchip number on the vaccination record and passport. This must be must be done by reading the microchip and not on the basis of any accompanying documentation. The microchip must be read before any subsequent entry is made in the passport.
2 (b) Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies in accordance with the recommendation of the vaccine manufacturer's data sheet
An authorised inactivated vaccine must be used. There are currently 4 authorised rabies vaccines in the UK: Rabisin, Nobivac Rabies, Quantum Rabies and Canigen Rabies.
Before vaccinating the animal, you must check that its microchip can be read and that the number matches your records or other accompanying documentation. You can vaccinate any time after the microchip has been fitted.
If an animal has been vaccinated before it was microchipped, it will have to be vaccinated again.
Record of vaccination
Enter the following details on the pet’s vaccination record and in section IV of the passport:
- vaccine manufacturer and product name
- batch number
- date of vaccination
- the date by which the booster vaccination must be given (calculated by reference to the validity period of the vaccine given in the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet).
- An LVI must then stamp and sign the passport
- Revaccination (boosters)
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 passport, third country official veterinary certificate (see (d) below) or PETS certificate and recorded in section IV of the passport. The revaccination interval for cats may be different to that for dogs (refer to the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet). Read the microchip, and check the number matches your records and the pet’s documentation, before revaccination.
If an animal has not been revaccinated by the valid until date, it will have to be vaccinated and, for re-entry to the UK, then blood tested again. Record in section XI of the passport that the details in section V are no longer valid for entry to the UK. For a form of words see the guidance notes on completing a passport on the PETS website (see “What vets need to do”).
The details in section V headed “In case of a further test” must then be completed by an LVI. Please advise the pet owner that the animal will have to wait 6 calendar months from the date a blood sample was taken that gave a satisfactory result following revaccination before it may enter the UK under PETS. See also part 3 on the 21 day wait before travelling to other EU countries.
(c) Blood testing (only necessary if an animal is re-entering the UK, entering Malta or, from a country other than the UK, the Republic of Ireland)
The blood test can be done either before the pet leaves the UK or after it has travelled to a listed country, unless it is required for entry to that country. Before taking the sample, read the microchip and check the number matches your records and the pet’s documentation.
The vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet will show the best time for a blood sample to be taken after vaccination. You may wish to give your client a signed record of the date the sample was taken with the microchip number correctly stated.
Where the blood sample is analysed
The blood sample must be analysed at an EU-approved laboratory. An analysis carried out before the recognition date of the laboratory is not acceptable. You can get a list of all approved laboratories from the PETS website, Helpline or Scottish Executive.
Ask the laboratory for the correct submission form and advice on labelling and delivery of the sample. Make sure that the microchip number and date the sample was taken are accurately and clearly recorded on the submission form.
Blood test result
A satisfactory test result must show that the rabies neutralising antibody titre was equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml. The test result must show the animal’s correct microchip number and the date the blood sample was taken. If it does not, ask the laboratory for one that does. Give your client a certified copy of the result and keep the original at your practice. Section V of the passport should then be completed by an LVI.
Failed blood tests
If an animal fails the blood test, the test must be repeated. The animal may first need to be revaccinated depending on your advice to the client. The 6 calendar month wait before entering the UK starts from the date that a subsequent blood sample that gave a satisfactory result was taken.
Further blood tests
No further blood tests are required following a satisfactory result provided the animal is revaccinated on time. See (b) if the revaccination date has been missed.
