Paphos People

It will become cheaper and easier to travel abroad with pets when new rules are introduced at the start of next year.

The UK will harmonise its pet movement rules with the rest of the European Union from 1 January 2012, bringing the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme into line with the most recent science. The UK will maintain its high level of protection against animal diseases after the changes, which have the potential to save pet owners around £7 million in fees.

Forcing pets to spend six months in quarantine, a practice dating from the 1800s, is no longer necessary because of vastly improved rabies vaccines and treatments.

All pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies. Pets from the EU and listed non-EU countries such as the USA and Australia will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days before they travel. Pets from unlisted non-EU countries such as India, Brazil and South Africa will be able to enter the UK if they meet certain strict criteria to ensure they are protected against rabies, including a blood test and a three-month wait before they enter the UK.

Please see http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/06/30/new-rules-pet-passports/ for full regulations and rules.

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"Your dog is your friend, your partner, your defender. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true until the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion"

KENNEL CLUB ISSUES NOTE OF CAUTION TO CHANGES TO THE UK’S PET TRAVEL SCHEME

The Kennel Club has issued a note of caution following the announcement of changes to the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme from next year, amidst concerns that they could have a negative impact on dog health.
Defra has announced that from January 1st 2012, changes to the scheme will include reducing the length of time after vaccination that a dog may travel, the removal of the requirement to blood test the dog before travel and the removal of the need to have the dog treated for ticks. A decision on whether to continue to treat for tapeworms is yet to be finalised.
Caroline Kisko, Communications Director at the Kennel Club commented: “Whilst this potentially represents a significant cost saving for dog owners, it could lead to serious health problems if owners stop treating their dogs for ticks and tapeworms. The Pet Travel Scheme was originally set up to protect human health but it is also vital to ensure that owners continue to protect their dogs’ health by carrying out both of these treatments.

“Tapeworms and ticks can lead to serious illness in dogs – illnesses which are not currently found in the UK. To this end the Kennel Club will be producing help and advice to dog owners whilst continuing to discuss this issue with Defra.”
The Pet Travel Scheme came into force in 2001, allowing British travellers to take their dogs on holiday in certain countries, and UK and overseas competitors to take part in dog shows and events more freely.
The requirements of the scheme – in regard to vaccination and treatment for ticks and tapeworms – have proved to be largely successful and have led to further lifting of quarantine regulations in the intervening period. Overseas competitors wishing to attend shows in the UK are now more freely able to qualify their dogs, both here and in their own countries, to attend shows such as Crufts.
Now, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has outlined that the current scheme will be changing as of next year. The main change is the removal of the requirement to blood test the dog post the rabies vaccination and six months before entry or return to the UK from within the EU and certain other listed countries, replacing this with a waiting period of 21 days after the rabies vaccination. Unlisted countries outside the EU will require a blood test to be carried out after vaccination and a further waiting time of three months from the time of the blood test, instead of the present six months after vaccination. Defra has also announced that tick treatments will no longer be required and are awaiting a decision at a European level regarding tapeworm provisions.

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Sue.

A Dog is for Life not Just for Cyprus.
(I wish more people would remember this)