As of January 1, 2012, the rabies free countries of the European Union relaxed the rules regarding quarantine. Now, if entering the UK, Malta or Sweden from a countries with a low incidence of rabies, pets need only be micro chipped and vaccinated for rabies at least 21 days prior to entry. Several EU countries require a tapeworm test be performed by an accredited veterinarian just prior to travel.
EU changes rules and forms once again. All EU countries now have a new veterinary certificate that replaces the old EU form 998. You can still use the Annex form for entry into an EU country until June 1, 2012 but only if it has been completed by an accredited veterinarian prior to the end of February 2012. After that time, only the new form called Annex II will be accepted. Another rule change affects those countries who require a tapeworm treatment and examination prior to entry. That treatment must be done in the country from which the pet is traveling 24 to 120 hours prior to entering the EU country.
Because these forms must be endorsed by the USDA or CFIA if traveling from the United States or Canada, the timeline for obtaining USDA endorsement for traveling pet owners has been limited. If you are not located in the city where your State USDA office is located, be sure and plan your tapeworm treatment carefully and use express services both to and from the USDA office.
We have all the current forms and instructions for pet travel to the EU available for a nominal fee at under our Pet Passports section.
Navidad – all EU countries require an EU health certificate which must be issued within 10 days of travel by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA. No EU country will accept a normal health certificate. That said, if you are flying in and out of Germany on the same airline and, if your pet is flying in th ecargo hold, your layover is not more than 3 hours, then the airline will transit your pet through Germany and no documentation to enter that country will be required.
Susan
i am traveling to spain from the united states but we do have a transfer in Germany.do we need a EU certificate even though spain only requires a endorsed normal health certificate and microchip and rabies? the EU certificate is requiring alot more lab work than my final destination is requesting and i wasn’t sure if i needed it or not.
David – try to find an airline that flies directly to the UK if possible. If not, then just be sure and stay on the same airline for the entire trip. Keep layovers under 3 hours. Not sure when your travel is, but would advise that you get the titers redone and samples processed in an approved lab as soon as you can (depends on when your cats’ current rabies vaccinations expire and you can speak to your vet about maximizing your chances of an acceptable test results). Your cats will need to be imported to the UK under quarantine regulations and serve the remainder of the 3 months wait in the UK if you do not have time to wait before you leave.
Susan
Hi, we’re looking for some advice. We have 2 cats and will be travelling from Brazil to the UK through Europe. Either Portugal or France. Our cats have been microchipped, vaccinated against Rabies and had the serology test, all fine. However, we’ve just realised that the lab that did the serology test is not an EU approved lab. So, we’re wondering; do we risk it and take them with us? What’s the worst case scenario? They get quarantined in the first country we land in or is the worst case that they get returned to Brazil? If anyone has any firsthand experience with this, any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Michelle – hedgehogs are not listed as approved animals for import to Portugal. You will need to contact the Director of Veterinary Services for confirmation. secretariadoDIM@dgva.pt
Susan