QUARANTINE FOR PETS

Other considerations

5.1

For the purposes of trans-national movement of pet animals, apart from the British Isles and Sweden, the European Union has to be regarded as a single area, because animals can be taken freely from one country to another. In addition, other EU countries have an interest in our rabies control rules for pet animals, because many of their citizens visit the UK and in some cases would like to bring their pets with them. We need to make sure that there is an agreed framework of rules and standards within which all EU countries agree to operate (as is now the position with traded dogs and cats). Thus any changes to quarantine would need to be discussed with other Member States and the European Commission. It is quite possible that in time the result would be EU rules on rabies controls for pet animals, lust as there are already EU rules on rabies control for traded animals - the Balai arrangements (see paragraphs 2.1 3 and 2.14). If this happens care will have to be taken in devising suitable accession arrangements for those countries of eastern Europe where rabies is endemic and where more virulent strains of the rabies virus may be circulating. The Annex to his document sets out the position, where known, in each of the candidate countries.

5..2

If all or a large proportion of animals coming into the UK were exempted from quarantine, the concern of some pet owners about the welfare of their animals in quarantine would be met or largely met. There could be concerns about the animals still subject to quarantine.

5.3

The previous Government introduced in March 1995 a Voluntary Code of Practice on the Welfare of Dogs and Cats in Quarantine Premises. This Code provides guidance to quarantine premises proprietors / managers, Veterinary Superintendents and staff on the need for calm and careful handling of animals, provision of stimuli, food and water as well as including advice on unit sizes, sleeping compartments and visiting hours. The owners of premises were invited to agree to abide by the provisions of the Code. A list of those premises that have agreed to do so will be published by the Agriculture Departments and circulated to prospective clients.

5.4

The Government would like to put these arrangements on a statutory basis. At present the Government has no specific powers under the Animal Health Act 1981, or otherwise, to impose welfare standards in quarantine premises. New primary legislation would be required for this.

5.5

The Government intends that the cost of any new system which might replace quarantine should be borne by pet owners, as is the case with quarantine at the moment.