17 December 2014
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Pet owners who plan to travel with their animals should familiarise themselves with new pet travel rules coming in at the end of the year.
Jersey has a pet travel scheme which was set up to enable pet owners to take their pets with them when they move home or go on holiday in the EU.
People transporting animals for sale or to rehome them face stiff penalties if they use the pet passport scheme instead of getting an official licence from the States Vet.
The changes, which include a new pet passport, tighten up the existing rules. The aim is to minimise the risks to animal and human health by ensuring pets have had the right checks and vaccinations before they travel.
The main changes to the law that could affect local pet owners are:
- The introduction of a new-style pet passport
- The introduction of checks across the EU
- A new minimum age for rabies vaccination of 12 weeks
- New rules for those travelling with more than five pets
- Rules for pets entering the UK/Jersey by air on a flight that began outside the EU
Ahead of the changes, transport companies and veterinary officers in Jersey are working together to raise awareness of the changes and to remind Channel Island pet owners of their legal responsibilities.
States Veterinary Officer, Linda Lowseck said “The main requirements of the pet travel scheme will stay the same and if you already have a passport for your pet, you don’t need to get a new one, but you do need to familiarise yourself with the rule changes and prepare well in advance if you want to travel with your pet. If in doubt, seek advice from your vet or go to the States of Jersey website.”
gov.je