The Pet Travel Scheme (Pilot Arrangements) (England) Order 1999

Amendment to the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974

13.—(1) The Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 is amended by adding the following provisions.

(2) After paragraph (4A) of article 4 there shall be added—

“(4B) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (4) above and Schedule 2 to this Order, animals may also be brought into England at Cheriton through the Channel Tunnel.”.

(3) After article 4A there shall be added—

“The Pet Travel Scheme (Pilot Arrangements) (England) Order 1999

4B.   The provisions of this Order shall not apply in relation to pet cats or pet dogs brought into England in accordance with the provisions of the Pet Travel Scheme (Pilot Arrangements) (England) Order 1999.”.

(4) After article 5 there shall be added—

“Release from quarantine

5A.— (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding article, if a cat or a dog is in quarantine at the date of the coming into force of the Pet Travel Scheme (Pilot Arrangements) (England) Order 1999, and the Minister is satisfied that it has been microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and has had a blood sample taken and tested as required under that Order, the Minister may grant a licence releasing that animal from quarantine six months after the date the blood sample was taken instead of six months after the animal was taken into quarantine, provided that he is satisfied that the animal has not been out of the British Islands, the Republic of Ireland or the countries or territories in Part I of Schedule 2 to this Order (or, in the case of dogs assisting persons suffering from sensory impairment, those territories plus the countries in Part II of that Schedule) in the six months prior to the release date and provided also that the animal has been treated by a veterinary surgeon against Echinococcus multicularis and ticks, using a veterinary medicine with a marketing authorisation at an appropriate dosage (in the case of treatment against Echinococcus multicularis the medicine must contain praziquantel as the active ingredient) at least twenty four hours before release.

(2) If a cat or a dog is brought into England on or after the coming into force of the Pet Travel Scheme (Pilot Arrangements) (England) Order 1999 and is taken into quarantine, whether or not because it failed to meet some or all of the conditions for the importation of cats and dogs under that Order, the Minister may grant a licence releasing that animal from quarantine if he is satisfied—

(a) that the animal has been microchipped, vaccinated and blood tested in accordance with that Order and at the times specified in that Order, and that the animal has been treated by a veterinary surgeon against Echinococcus multicularis and ticks, using a veterinary medicine with a marketing authorisation at an appropriate dosage (in the case of treatment against Echinococcus multicularis the medicine must contain praziquantel as the active ingredient) at least twenty four hours before release; and

(b) that the animal has not been out of the British Islands, the Republic of Ireland or the countries or territories in Part I of Schedule 2 to this Order (or, in the case of dogs assisting persons suffering from sensory impairment, those territories plus the countries in Part II of that Schedule) in the six months prior to the release date.”.

(5) After paragraph (2) of article 6 there shall be added—

“(3) The requirement to vaccinate against rabies in paragraph (1) above shall not apply in any case where the Minister is satisfied that—

(a) the animal has been resident for the six months preceding entry into quarantine in the British Islands, the Republic of Ireland or the territories set out in Schedule 2 to the Pet Travel Scheme (Pilot Arrangements) (England) Order 1999; and

(b) the animal has been vaccinated and blood tested in accordance with the requirements of that Order, and the period of cover of the vaccination has not expired.”.