The import requirements for cats and dogs travelling into the UK will change on 1 January 2012 to align with the general EU requirements (Please click here for full details) As a consequence of this change, the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Malta will be classified as ‘Category 4’ countries (A country in which rabies is absent or well controlled) for the purpose of exporting cats and dogs to Australia. Both Australia and New Zealand will now require rabies work prior to entry.
As of the 1st of January 2012, cats and dogs travelling from the UK, Malta, Republic of Ireland, and Sweden to Australia will now be required to have a rabies vaccination and a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT) prior to entry in to Australia. If your pet has never been previously vaccinated against rabies, it is recommended that at least four weeks elapse between the rabies vaccination and blood sampling (This will allow your pet to produce sufficient antibodies to record a positive test result).
Once your pet has been vaccinated and had the RNATT test (With a satisfactory result), a period of one hundred and eighty days must pass before your pet can be released from quarantine in Australia.
Cats and dogs must spend at least sixty days in the country of export (from the date of blood sampling for the RNATT) before travelling to Australia and they are required to spend a minimum of thirty days in quarantine upon arrival in Australia.
The remaining ninety days (To make up the full one hundred and eighty days) must either be spent in the country of export or added to the Australian quarantine period. The table below shows examples of how the 180-day requirement may be met:
Please click here to read the full information pack for pets travelling to Australia from ‘category 4’ countries.
The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency in the UK are currently liaising with AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) to confirm what will be required for the new UK Export Health Certificate and hope to have this finalized within the next few weeks- we will keep you posted!
For further information, you can contact AQIS:
AQIS Live Animal Imports
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT
2601
Australia
Phone: +61 2 6272 4454
Fax: +61 2 6272 3110
Email: Animal Imports
And for Australian quarantine information, please click here.
Pets travelling to New Zealand as of the 1st January 2012
Like Australia, New Zealand will also require the rabies vaccination and blood test prior to entry. Please see the requirements below:
Rabies Vaccinations
If your pet is being vaccinated against rabies for the first time, the vaccine must be given at least at least six months prior to the date of export and not more than one year (Your pet must be at least three months old).
If your pet has already had a ‘booster’ vaccination for rabies, this must have been given no more than one year prior to the date of export.
Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test (RNATT)
Your pet must have have the RNATT test no less than three months and no more than twenty four months prior to the date of export.
Please click here for more details regarding the rabies vaccine and blood test and here for further information regarding the import of pets in to New Zealand.
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