European Union

After two years in the Czech Republic, we are returning to the US with our cats. Does the EU pet passport, which each cat has, replace the health certificate requested by airlines? Our vet seems to think it does. There's a page that he would sign that says the animal is in good health and able to withstand carriage. Is he correct? Thank you.

- Sheila

Below is a letter to the IPATA organization reminding them of the importance of serial numbers on the EU veterinary certificate (form 998).  This is commonly overlooked by veterinarians and USDA officials, so it is the responsibility of the pet owner (or their pet relocation company!) to ensure that it is filled in.  We thought it'd be useful for our readers to remind them about the importance of the serial number (emphasis ours):

Pet owners traveling to Malta in the future will be glad to hear the recent news coming from the EU.  As reported by the Malta Independent:

The European Commission yesterday proposed extending Malta’s transitional measure applying to the health of pets travelling with their owners from certain countries.

My family and I will be moving to Poland with two cats. Will they need to have the FAVN test done? I've read so many conflicting requirements while pursuing an answer via the web that I'm at a total loss as where to begin. Thanks for your help! Carolina

Carolina, we hear you.  If you're moving with pets to the EU, you can get so bogged down in bureaocracy that it can make your work permit application process look like a cake walk!

Moving birds to the EU can be a very lengthy and expensive process, so make sure to plan ahead and do plenty of research.  Below is a brief overview of steps that need to be taken to ensure a successful relocation for your avian friend.