Ciss
Well-Known Member
Great news for all those travelling with / importing dogs (and cats) from abroad. DEFRA has finally accepted that it has to be EU-compliant and 6 months quarantine for Rabies has become a 21 day waiting period after vaccination for all animals imported from the EU and other countries with effective rabies control. Here is the link
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/06...pet-passports/
DEFRA was required to become compliant with EU regulations by 1 January 2012, so with the current quarantine for rabies being 6 months, yesterday was the last day they could announce the change so that pets arriving in the UK on or after 1 January 2012 did not have to had their rabies vaccinations and blood tests at least 6 months beforehand.
Considering all the problems, distress and ludicrous expense that the current and previous regulations have caused to dog and cat owners wishing to travel their animal abroad, import new ones or even bring in semen (yes unbelievably frozen dog semen currently has to be quarantined for 6 months and the importation of fresh and chilled is not possible becuase of the 6 month rule either of course) it is odd that this announcment has been hidden away in their news section as a statement by Caroline Spellman and there was no official 'launch' of the new regulations. It is almost as if they are ashamed at finally having to give up what they now describe as an outdated set of procedures but they probably realised the game was up when the Irish government announced last week that it was becoming EU compliant.
Bit difficult to stop stray dogs and cats crossing the border into Northern Ireland I would imagine!
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2011/06...pet-passports/
DEFRA was required to become compliant with EU regulations by 1 January 2012, so with the current quarantine for rabies being 6 months, yesterday was the last day they could announce the change so that pets arriving in the UK on or after 1 January 2012 did not have to had their rabies vaccinations and blood tests at least 6 months beforehand.
Considering all the problems, distress and ludicrous expense that the current and previous regulations have caused to dog and cat owners wishing to travel their animal abroad, import new ones or even bring in semen (yes unbelievably frozen dog semen currently has to be quarantined for 6 months and the importation of fresh and chilled is not possible becuase of the 6 month rule either of course) it is odd that this announcment has been hidden away in their news section as a statement by Caroline Spellman and there was no official 'launch' of the new regulations. It is almost as if they are ashamed at finally having to give up what they now describe as an outdated set of procedures but they probably realised the game was up when the Irish government announced last week that it was becoming EU compliant.
Bit difficult to stop stray dogs and cats crossing the border into Northern Ireland I would imagine!