Differing European approaches to the role of legislation

Differing European approaches to the role of legislation and guidelines in stray dog control • EU Legislation 998/2003 ( as amended by 454/2008) on the animal health requirements applicable to the noncommercial movement of pet animals • Workshop on stray dog population control and protection of companion animals - AGR 43657 Podgorica, Montenegro, 13 – 14 December 2010 • David Pritchard DEFRA

• European Regulation 998/2003 took effect on 3 July 2004. • It sets out the animal health requirements for the movement of pet animals travelling between European Union (EU) countries and into the EU from other countries.

PETS website: http: //www. defra. gov. uk/wildlifepets/travel/index. htm

History Rabies control • Rabies free countries such as UK relied on strict 6 months quarantine for all dogs cats and other susceptible species • 1998 Kennedy report • Risk based reform of quarantine rules

Kennedy reform main principles • allow in animals for which reliable alternative assurances can be obtained, in particular those from EU Member States and certain rabies-free countries, through restrictions based on identification, vaccination, blood testing, certification and a system of checks after entry • checks would be made at the point of entry, or these checks would be made away from the point of entry in approved reception centres. • Where these assurances cannot be met, animals would be quarantined as now

Echinococcosis and Hydatid Cyst

Echinococcus Hydatid cyst

• Life cycle Echinococcus multilocularis

Echinococcus spp 2007

Legal Framework • 90/425/EEC Veterinary checks on certain live animals and products with a view to completion of the single market • 92/65/EEC ‘Balai’ Trade in animals semen, ova and embryos not covered by 90/425 • 97/338/EC CITES • 2000/258 Laboratories approved for rabies testing • 998/2003 on pets movements revised 92/65

Scope of 998/2003 • The Regulation covers the requirements for the movement of pet dogs, cats, ferrets, domestic rabbits and rodents (including guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils and chinchillas). It also covers birds (except certain poultry), ornamental tropical fish, invertebrates (except bees and crustaceans), amphibians and reptiles.

Scope 2 • Animals covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) remain subject to the provisions of Council Regulation 388/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora.

Countries with additional requirements • • IE Ireland - Rabies Echinococcosis and ticks MT Malta - Rabies Echinococcosis and ticks SE Sweden Rabies Echinococcosis UK United Kingdom- Rabies Echinococcosis and ticks • FN Finland -Echinococcosis

Passports • The major revison to 998/2003 change for dogs and cats entering the UK ROI MA SW is that • the PETS certificate, ( identification, rabies vaccination and serological test) • the tick and tapeworm certificate • and the declaration of residence • have been replaced by an EU PET PASSPORT. • Only dogs, cats and ferrets require a passport

Passports • The passport allows these cats, dogs and ferrets to enter or re-enter the UK from the listed EU and other countries. • It replaces the export health certificate for travel from the UK to other EU countries and permits travel between EU countries

Dogs , cats ferrets without passports • Can only be licensed into quarantine for 6 months. They are not required to meet PETS rules. • Animals from unlisted countries also have to be licensed into quarantine for 6 months.

EU Member States and territories

non-EU listed countries

Detailed rules for entry in UK, ROI, MA, SW • To enter without quarantine from a listed country, dogs and cats have to be – microchipped, – vaccinated against rabies. in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturing laboratory. – and blood tested with positive result at an approved laboratory

Detailed rules for entry in UK, ROI, MA, SW • TIMING – The 6 calendar month wait to enter or re-enter the UK from the date a blood sample was taken that gave a satisfactory test result • RESIDENCY – Animals must not have been outside any of the listed countries in the 6 calendar months before entering the UK.

Detailed rules for entry in UK, ROI, MA, SW • PARASITE TREATMENT – The tick and tapeworm treatment, carried out not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before being checked-in with an approved transport company to travel into the UK, is still required.

Detailed rules for entry in UK, ROI, MA, SW • TRANSPORTER AND ROUTE – Dogs and cats must still enter the UK using an approved transport company and route.

HEALTH CERTIFICATION for entry in UK, ROI, MA, SW • EU LISTED countries – Use PET passport • NON EU listed countries – Must have a third country official veterinary certificate, “Veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets entering the European Community for non-commercial movements (Regulation (EC) No 998/2003)”. which attests details of the microchip, rabies vaccination, blood test and tick and tapeworm treatment

Revised rules on consignment numbers • As of 26 th May 2010, a limit of five animals (dogs, cats and ferrets only) is applicable person for all importations into and around the European Union, regardless of the exporting country. This limit was introduced by the European Parliament and Council and is applicable to all listed countries

Step 1: The microchip • Your pet must first be fitted with a microchip. Defra recommend that it meets ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. If the microchip does not meet one of these Standards you must provide a reader that can read the microchip number at the time of any inspection. • Ask the person fitting the microchip to check that its number can be read before and after it has been fitted. Get your vet to read the microchip every time you visit.

Step 2: The rabies vaccination • When to vaccinate • Pets being prepared to enter or re-enter the UK must be vaccinated in accordance with the recommendation of the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet. They must be vaccinated after a microchip has been fitted. Get the vet to read the microchip number before the vaccination. • If your pet was vaccinated before the microchip was fitted, it will have to be vaccinated again. This is to make sure that it is correctly identified when vaccinated

Vaccination record • When your pet is vaccinated, make sure that the vet accurately records the following details on its vaccination record and passport: – its date of birth/age – the microchip number, date of insertion and its location in the animal – the date of vaccination , - the vaccine manufacturer, product name and batch number – The date by which the booster vaccination must be given (i. e “Valid until” date) calculated by reference to the validity period of the vaccine given in the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet.

Booster vaccinations • After your pet has been vaccinated and blood tested with a satisfactory result, it will need booster vaccinations. These must be given by the “Valid until” date in section IV of the passport or on the PETS certificate and be recorded on the vaccination record and in section IV of the passport. • If the booster date is missed, your pet will have to be vaccinated and blood tested again. The 6 month rule will apply from the date the new blood sample is taken, provided the result is satisfactory.

Step 3: The blood test • After being vaccinated, your pet must have a blood test to make sure that the vaccine has worked. This can be carried out after your pet has travelled to another EU country unless a blood test is required for entry to that country. • Blood sample must be analysed at an EUapproved laboratory. • A satisfactory test result must show that the rabies neutralising antibody titre was equal to or greater than 0. 5 IU/ml

Step 4: Documentation • After your pet has passed its blood test you must get an EU pet passport. If a blood test is not necessary, or is to be carried out in another EU country, you can get a passport after your pet has been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies.

21 day wait • For EU countries where more stringent entry requirements do not apply, the EU has introduced a wait of 21 days from the date of the first rabies vaccination before a pet can enter those EU countries. However, if the vaccine manufacturer’s datasheet requires more than one vaccination to complete the primary vaccination protocol, the 21 day wait applies from the date of the final vaccination of that protocol.

Step 5: Treatment against ticks and tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis • Before a pet can enter the UK, it must be treated against ticks and tapeworms. Any vet in the EU can give the treatment tapeworm which must contain praziquantel and be administered in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Reads the microchip before treatment. • Your pet must be treated not less than 24 hours and not more than 48 hours before being checked in with an approved transport company to travel into the UK. The treatment must be given every time a pet travels to UK.

Health and welfare of your pet • When abroad your pet may come into contact with animal diseases which we do not have in the UK e. g. diseases transmitted by ticks, and parasites like heartworm. These could kill your pet or make it seriously ill. Some can affect humans. • Before you take your pet abroad, consult your vet about any preventative treatment necessary and how to look for signs of ill health in your pet.

DACTARI • If your pet becomes ill after returning to the UK, explain where it has been so your vet can consider diseases not normally found in the UK. A scheme called DACTARI has been set up to record these diseases.

Implementation • If an animal arrives in the UK and does not meet the PETS requirements, the authority responsible for carrying out the checks will decide, in consultation with the owner and a vet, whether to – re-export the animal; – to put it into quarantine (possibly for up to 6 months) until it can comply with the PETS rules; or, – as a last resort, to put the animal down.

Ferrets • To enter or re-enter the UK from a listed country without quarantine a ferret must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and issued with an EU pet passport or a third country official veterinary certificate and treated against ticks and tapeworms. http: //defraweb/wildlifepets/travel/factsheet 5 -100915. pdf

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