Pet Travel Scheme

Name: Tamara A.
Moving From: London
Moving To: Athens
Question: Hello, I am not actually moving, but just visiting Greece for about 1 month, and then returning to the UK with my dog. Do I need to complete all the same vaccinations and USDA approvals for this? Or what is it that I must do? Thank you, Tamara A.

Thanks for your question Tamara!  The USDA process is only for the United States -- were you living in the United States, you would need to arrange that paperwork but the UK is different.  However you will need a pet passport from the UK in order to depart and return to the UK while avoiding quarantine.  In other words, you will need to comply with the Pet Travel Scheme.

Regarding the process for import into Greece, you will need to get a health certificate issued by the government vet in the UK.   This will need to be done the week prior to travel.

Ten years ago this week, pets were allowed to begin pet traveling to and from the UK without being put into quarantine, as long as they fulfilled the necessary pet import requirements to prove that they were rabies free.  This system, the Pet Travel Scheme or PETS, has since then successfully prevented rabies from entering the historically rabies-free country, while making life easier for travelers with pets.

From DEFRA, the governing body of agriculture imports and exports in the UK:

A pug called Frodo Baggins was the first animal to travel with a pet passport and since then around 60 per cent of the pets travelling under the scheme have belonged to UK owners. Animals from Ireland, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands make up about another 20 per cent. The scheme was set up in response to growing demand from owners to travel with their pets and the declining risk of disease allowed these changes to be made. In 2004 the European Union followed the UK's lead and introduced a similar system for all Member States which has also proved very successful.

See our Moving Pets to the UK page for more information on moving pets to London or anywhere else in England!

Name: Risa

Subject: Rules and Regs. & How to ship my small dog to UK safely?

Question: Also...does my dog have to go in pet travel quarantine?

Thanks!

Answer: Hello Risa!

There are some pet transport requirements you will need to fulfill in order to be able to get your dog into the UK and make it through customs. Please note- the rules change depending on which country you will be coming from, so if you're not leaving from the US the requirements will be different from what is below:

If coming from the US, you will be able to avoid quarantine in the UK if you follow these rule and requirements:

1) First, your dog will need to be microchipped. The microchip used should comply with ISO standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785. The microchip implantation must be done before the rabies vaccination.

2) Next, rabies vaccination & certificate. All pets must have have an original Rabies Certificate and this certificate must state the microchip number, the date of inoculation and the validity of the particular vaccination you obtain.

3) Third, your dog will need rabies titer/ FAVN-OIE tests.  FAVN or Fluorescent Antibody Viral Neutralization (FAVN) Blood Test is to ensure that the rabies vaccinations have provided adequate rabies antibody levels and will need to be approved by an approved Government Facility  prior to export (i.e. the USDA). 

To obtain a Rabies Titer/FAVN test:

Your vet will need to send a serum sample, accompanied by a completed FAVN Report Form, to the Kansas State University lab* to do the FAVN test. The Kansas State Lab will then send the FAVN Report Form with the results of the test back to the submitting clinic.

Rabies Laboratory

Kansas State University

2005 Research Park Circle

Manhattan, KS 66502

tel. 785-532-4483

fax 785-532-4474

www.vet.ksu.edu/rabies

rabies@vet.ksu.edu

If the FAVN test is approved:

The 'Six Month Wait' begins at the day of blood draw.

The results of the blood test must be 0.5 IU/ml or above in order to qualify for entry.

*Please call KSU prior to sending the blood to make sure they are aware of the delivery and the destination location.  We also suggest, prior to shipping the blood, that you ask how they want the blood container labeled and how they want it sent to them.  These labs do change their policy often, so its best to double check with them.

4) Then, you will need a letter from your vet which states the date the microchip was implanted. Please note, if the Rabies Vaccination and the blood draw date were done on the same day, please state that the vaccination was given before the blood was drawn.

5) Next, you will need to obtain an EU Vet Health Certificate (Form EC#: 998). This is the standard health certificate to be filled out by your accredited vet. This certificate is valid for 4 months prior to departure date, so do not get this issued too early.

6) Then, you will need to obtain an USDA Endorsement for the above referenced forms, which much be sent to your local USDA for their stamp of approval.

7) Finally, 24-48 hours prior to departure, you will need to go back to your veterinarian so they can issue both, an International Health Certificate and the Tick/Tapeworm Treatments they have administered.

Hope this information helps, and for more information please see our Pet Travel Scheme rules on our website. This is something we could absolutely help you out with, our UK Specialist, Scotty, would be happy to answer any further questions you may have. His e-mail address is Scotty[at]petrelocation[dot]com. Good luck and have a good trip!