European Union Pet Import Requirements

Vaccination against rabies - The pet animal (dog, cat or ferret) must be vaccinated against rabies by an authorised veterinarian in accordance with Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, as follows:

• the animal was at least 12 weeks old at the date the vaccine was administered
• the date of administration of the vaccine does not precede the date of marking or reading of the transponder
• the period of validity of the vaccination starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination, and any subsequent vaccination was carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination

Regarding the vaccination against rabies - EU countries may authorise the movement into their territory from territories or third countries listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 of young dogs, cats and ferrets which are less than 12 weeks old and have not received an anti-rabies vaccination or are between 12 and 16 weeks old and have received an anti-rabies vaccination, but 21 days have not elapsed since the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination against rabies.

In that case, the animals must be accompanied by either:

• a declaration of the owner (see model set out in Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 577/2013) attached to the animal health certificate stating that from birth until the time of dispatch, the animals have had no contact with wild animals of species susceptible to rabies, or
• their mother on whom they still depend and from the animal health certificate of their mother it can be established that the mother received before their birth a valid anti-rabies vaccination

Rabies antibody test - The pet animal (dog, cat or ferret) must undergo a rabies antibody titration test in accordance with Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, as follows:

• the test must be carried out on a sample collected by an authorised veterinarian at least 30 days after the date of vaccination and not less than three months before the date of movement
• the test must measure a level of neutralising antibody to rabies virus in serum equal to or greater than 0,5 IU/ml
• the test must be performed in an approved laboratory

The test is not required for pet animals (dogs, cats or ferrets) moved into an EU country from a territory or a third country listed on:  https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement/eu-legislation/non-commercial-non-eu/listing_en

• The test does not have to be renewed following a satisfactory result, provided that the pet animal is revaccinated within the period of validity of the previous vaccination
• The three-month period shall not apply to the re-entry of a pet animal whose passport certifies that the test was carried out and documented, with a favourable result, before the animal left the Union.

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Refer to each EU country profile