From January 1st, 2012, the UK’s animal quarantine laws, which were originally introduced in the 19th century to combat the threat of rabies, have been relaxed to bring them into line with current European legislation.
Under the previous legislation, any dog, cat or ferret entering the UK had to be vaccinated against and blood tested for rabies, and also needed to be quarantined for six months. From January, however, pets travelling from the EU or certain listed non-EU countries such as the US and Australia 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 can also 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 travel.
Additionally, the rules which require animals to be treated for ticks and tapeworm have also been relaxed, although tapeworm treatment is still required for dogs entering the UK from certain countries – see link below for further details.
While many pet owners welcome the changes, which make it much cheaper and easier to travel abroad with our pets, there are also fears that the relaxed rules will inevitably result in rabies getting into the UK. There are also some concerns that the relaxation of some of the tick and tapeworm treatment regulations might be detrimental to pet’s health, and pet owners are urged to be on their guard against these parasites, particularly after travelling abroad.
For more information about all the new quarantine laws, check out the Defra website at:
Let us know what do you think. Is it time for change, or are we inviting trouble?
