Importation of Pet Animals

The Animals and Birds Rules 2004 implemented EC Regulation 998/2003 which controls the animal health requirements for the non-commercial movement of pet animals between Member States or their entry or re-entry into the territory of the community from a third country.

A 'pet animal' is defined as an animal listed below which accompanies its owner or a natural person responsible for such animal on behalf of its owner during the movement and is not intended to be sold or transferred to another owner. The following are classified as pet animals:
Dogs, cats, ferrets, invertebrates (except bees and crustaceans), ornamental tropical fish, amphibia, reptiles, all species of birds (except poultry), rodents and domestic rabbits.

Requirements as to the movements of cats, dogs and ferrets

The current requirements for the movements of cats, dogs and ferrets that are pet animals are as follows:-

1. Movements between European Community Member States –
   1. Animals must be identified by either a tattoo or an electronic identification system (microchip).  From 3rd July 2012 animals must be identified by an electronic identification system (microchip) and tattoos will no longer be acceptable.
   2. Animals must be accompanied by a Pet Passport* issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or revaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturing laboratory, carried out on the animals in question with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard.

Until the 30th June 2010 the entry of cats, dogs and ferrets into the territory of Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom is subject to the following requirements:-

1. Animal must be identified by a tattoo (if the Member State of destination recognizes this identification) or an electronic identification system (microchip).  From 3rd July 2012 animals must be identified by an electronic identification system (microchip) and tattoos will no longer be acceptable.
2. Animals must be accompanied by a Pet Passport* issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or revaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturing laboratory, carried out on the animals in question with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard.
3. The animals must have a blood test confirming a neutralizing rabies antibody titration at least equal to 0.5 iu/ml carried out in an EU approved laboratory.  The sample must be taken within the periods laid down in national rules of the Member State of destination.

The antibody titration need not be repeated on animals which, following the titration, have been regularly revaccinated without a break in the vaccination protocol of the manufacturing laboratory of the vaccine.

Movement consisting of the entering or re-entering of any European Community Member State other than (Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom) from any of the following territories:-

Animals must be identified by either a tattoo or an electronic identification system (microchip).  From 3rd July 2012 animals must be identified by an electronic identification system (microchip) and tattoos will no longer be acceptable.

1. Animals re-entering the community from any of these territories must be accompanied by a Pet Passport issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or re-vaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the Manufacturing Laboratory carried out on the animal in question with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard OR
   
2. Animals entering the community from any of these territories must be accompanied by a Certificate conforming with the model established by Commission Decision 2004/824/EC issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or re-vaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the Manufacturing Laboratory carried out on the animal in question with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard.

Movement consisting of the entering or re-entering any European Community Member States from any other third country not included in the table above:

1. Animals re-entering the community from any of these territories must be accompanied by a Pet Passport issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or re-vaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the Manufacturing Laboratory carried out on the animal in question with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard OR
2. Animals entering the community from any of these territories must be accompanied by a Certificate conforming with the model established by Commission Decision 2004/824/EC issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or re-vaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the Manufacturing Laboratory carried out on the animal in question with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard.

The animals must have a blood test confirming a neutralizing rabies antibody titration at least equal to 0.5 iu/ml carried out on a sample taken by an authorized veterinarian and three months before being moved.  PLEASE NOTE THAT A BLOOD TEST HAS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY AN EU APPROVED LABORATORY.  The blood test need not be renewed on a pet animal which has been revaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the laboratory manufacturing the vaccine.  The three month period shall not apply to the re-entry of a pet animal whose passport certifies that the rabies antibody titration was carried out, with a positive result, before the animal left the territory of the community.

*Pet Passport – means a passport that complies with the model set out in Commission Decision 2003/803/EC.

Pet Dogs, Cats, Ferrets under 3 Months Old

Special provisions exist for the movement between Member States of dogs, cats and ferrets which are under 3 months old into Gibraltar. For more information please contact the Environmental Agency.

There are at present no health requirements for the importation of any other pet animal listed above.

The importation of any animal which is not a PET ANIMAL into Gibraltar is subject to licensing requirements and you should therefore contact the Environmental Agency.

Animals covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will remain subject to the requirement of that legislation.

The Government of Gibraltar introduced the Dangerous Dog Act on the 7th May 2003 following the numerous reports of dog attacks reported in the United Kingdom's press and on suspicion that some of these dogs were being used for dog fighting locally.

The concept of the legislation was to prohibit the importation of the breed of dogs known as Pitbull Terriers, American Staffordshire, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, or Fila Braziliero or dogs appearing to be a cross breed of or substantially of one of these types.

Persons who owned these dogs before the legislation came into force had five months to permanently export, destroy or seek an exemption under the Act. the granting of an exemption was subject to satisfying the following requirements stipulated in the Act:

1. Evidence as to the owners' suitability as the custodian of the dog.
2. A certificate from a Veterinary Surgeon as to the nature of the dog.
3. A certificate from a Veterinary Surgeon certifying that the dog has been neutered.
4. Evidence of satisfactory insurance in respect of any injury or damage caused to a third party by the dog.

Certificates of Exemptions have to be renewed on an annual basis.
The importation of these dogs into Gibraltar is now prohibited.

  Japanese Tosa
  Fila Brasilero
  Pitbull Terrier
  American Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  Dogo Argentino