Pet Passport Rules To Be Made Easier

From next year pet owners in Britain will be able to more easily take their dogs and cats abroad as the Government is to relax pet passport rules.

Currently if you want to travel abroad with your pet, you have to get a pet passport, give them an anti-rabies injection and also have to have 6 months quarantine from the date of a blood test before they can re-enter the UK.

It’s this last item, the 6 months of quarantine, that is the big issue for most and it’s this that the Government is relaxing.

From 1 January 2001, the UK will be bringing its pet movement rules in line wiht the rest of the European Union.

Pets travelling within the EU and listed non-EU countries (including the US and Australia) will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days from the date they have their anti-rabies vaccination before they can travel.

Pets from unlisted non-EU countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa will have to meet certain strict criteria before they can enter the UK. This is to ensure they are protected against rabies and includes having a blood test and a three-month wait before they enter the UK.

Moneyhighstreet comments “This will no doubt be welcome news for pet owners.

“Do make sure though that if you are taking your pet abroad that you have appropriate pet insurance in place – and don’t forget to buy your own travel insurance too, assuming you are travelling with your pet!