The House of Commons select committee has recently voted to relax the regulation for bringing pets into Britain. The blood tests, six month waiting period and mandatory tick treatment regulations established in 2000 have been removed and as of 2012 the new regulations will apply.
The new regulations are that dogs, cats (and ferrets) will have to be microchipped and the pet must be vaccinated against rabies with the vaccination entered on its passpost. The pet must also be treated for tapeworm. No blood test is required. The waiting period has been changed from 6 months to 3 weeks. Please note that dogs considered dangerous, such as Pit Bull Terriers, are prohibited from entry into Britain.
After the 3 week waiting period the pet is free to travel by plane, using an approved airline, to a registered port of entry. If travelling by car or ship, the same conditions apply and the pets need to be in a carrier or behind a paw-and-nose-proof screen. Owners must keep their pet passport with their pet at all times on the journey. This must be a proper passport and not the old vaccinations books.
For more information contact Erny and Peter Harrison, the official representative for Passports for Pets in Spain and Portugal at Apartado 254, 29500, Alora (Málaga).
