Pet travel rules change
A new passport has been introduced to help prevent forgeries.
Changes to the Pet Travel Scheme come into force today, in a bid to clamp down on abuse of the system. From today (December 29), all pet passports issued will fall under the new rules.
The scheme allows people to travel in and out of the country with their cat, dog or ferret, assuming they meet the criteria. An undercover investigation by the Dog's Trust revealed widespread abuse of the system. Shocking footage shows European vets forging passports and rabies vaccination records and underage puppies slipping through the net undeclared.
In order to improve traceability and prevent passport forgeries, a new pet passport has been introduced from today. New passports contain laminated strips and the issuing vet is now required to provide more contact details.
Other changes include:
- A minimum age of 12 weeks before pets can be vaccinated against rabies
- All EU member states must now carry out checks on their borders
- Owners who cannot travel with their pet when they enter the EU must do so within five days
Existing passports will remain valid for the lifetime of the pet, or until the treatment spaces have all been filled.
Since the rules of the scheme were relaxed in 2012, making it easier for pets to travel around Europe, many in the veterinary profession have raised concerns that this could lead to a rise in the number of illegally imported pets, and therefore the risk of disease.
Between 2011 and 2013, the number of declared dogs entering the UK from Lithuania rose by 780 per cent, and from Hungary, 663 per cent. The Dogs Trust has warned that these figures are merely the tip of the iceberg, due to the high number of illegally imported puppies.
Often, these puppies travel thousands of miles in appalling conditions, without the necessary treatments or vaccinations. The charity says this poses a very real disease threat to people and animals in the UK.
For further information on the Pet Travel Scheme, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pet-travel-guidance-on-changes-to-the-eu-scheme-from-29-december-2014
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
