What is the Pet Travel Scheme?

In 2000, legislation was introduced that relaxed the UK’s very stringent quarantine rules. As long as strict criteria were met and appropriate documentation produced, the pet owning public of Jersey were allowed to travel with their dogs and cats, to certain countries and return home without having to put their pets in quarantine. The following section will guide you through the process and the criteria you need to meet.

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) was designed to prevent rabies and a number of other very serious diseases, entering the UK, and becoming established in our pets, domestic animals and wildlife. Failure to meet its requirements will result in your pet being refused entry back into Jersey and facing six months in quarantine in the country from which you have travelled.

Which countries and pets does it apply to?

You cannot travel to any country, nor can you import a pet from any country under the Pet Travel Scheme. For a list of approved EU and non EU countries, please refer to www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel

The Pet Travel Scheme only applies to Dogs, Cats and Ferrets. If you wish to travel with other pets, or are planning to export a pet, please check the requirements with Ashley Pinel at the Department of the Environment. Tel. 0044 (0)1534 441600

Pets entering Jersey from the UK, including the Republic of Ireland are EXEMPT from the Pet Travel Scheme. They can move freely between the Channel Islands and the UK, without a passport.

What are the requirements of the scheme

1. Your pet has a microchip  implanted by a vet.
2. First rabies vaccine is given by a vet (this can be at the same time as the microchip).
3. Two weeks later, the second rabies vaccine is given by a vet.
4. Three weeks later, the vet takes a blood sample. (This is sent to a UK lab, where rabies antibody levels are measured).
5. Six months after the date of the blood test, your pet is allowed to re-enter Jersey or the UK, if:
   • Their rabies antibody levels were high enough.
   • They have a valid passport.
   • They have met the other requirements of the scheme.

The process takes seven months and one week. Please allow enough time!!

What does the blood test and passport involve?

• A vet or nurse takes a small sample usually from a vein in the neck and sometimes from the arm. Your pet will have to have a small area of fur clipped so that we can easily find the vein. It is a quick, simple and safe procedure that can be done during a normal consultation.
• It usually takes between 2-4 weeks before we receive results.
• It is extremely unusual for the results to be too low. If that happens, a further vaccine has to be given and the blood test repeated, 3 weeks after the additional vaccination.
• If the blood test is OK, we issue your pet’s passport.We strongly advise that you attend a consultation, during which we go through and double check the passport details, with you. We go through the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme, to ensure that you fully understand the process and the pitfalls. We also explain the health risks and their prevention- these are significant; the incidence of rabies is extremely low, but every year a growing number of pets become ill and die from diseases not normally encountered in Jersey and the UK. During this consultation, we also have to issue a form from the States of Jersey.

What are the legal requirements of travelling with my pet?

• You may travel to France any time, 21 days after the last rabies vaccination is given, but you cannot return to Jersey or the UK until six months from the date of a satisfactory rabies blood test.
• You must travel with a valid, signed, stamped and correctly filled in pet passport.
• You can only travel on an approved carrier. From Jersey that is Condor Ferries or Beauport Aviation. You cannot use a private plane or private boat or any other ferry or plane company.
• When you return, you must see a vet 24-48 hours prior to embarkation on the return journey to Jersey or the UK. They have to administer approved treatments against a specific Tapeworm and Ticks. These treatments and the time of administration are recorded in your pet’s passport. A list of vets in St Malo and Dinan is available at the Practice.
• On your arrival in Jersey, your pet’s microchip is checked and your passport inspected. Any irregularity will result in you and your pet having to return to France and make arrangements for your pet to stay in quarantine for six months; Jersey has no quarantine facilities.
• It is your responsibility to ensure that your rabies vaccinations are kept up to date. After the initial course, a rabies booster has to be given and recorded in your passport, every 3 years. Unlike your “annual vaccines” these cannot be late. The date the booster is due is clearly recorded in the passport. If it is one day overdue, the passport is invalid: your pet will not be allowed to travel, might be quarantined, and you have to restart the scheme from the beginning, including the 6 month waiting period. We do send reminders, but such systems fail and ultimately the responsibility has to rest with the pet’s owner. Rabies vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccinations.

What are the common problems that arise at "check in" at passport control?

(from States of Jersey Website)
• rabies re-vaccination not carried out in time
• rabies vaccination given late and blood test has not been repeated
• six month wait after the blood test has not been completed
• blood test has not been entered into the passport
• tick and tapeworm treatment has not been given
• the tick and tapeworm treatment is not within the 24-48 hour period
• the vet has not entered the time, signature or stamped the tick and tapeworm treatment
• the vet has not entered the expiry date for the rabies vaccination
• the microchip cannot be read
• date of microchip has not been entered as DD/MM/YY
• microchip date is after rabies vaccination date (procedure not carried out in correct order)

Go to Defra's website on Pet Travel for more information.

Go to States of Jersey Environment website for a local perspective.