Compulsory pet passport for EU travel

New EU-wide legislation will, as of next month, introduce the need for a passport for pets carried across the European Union.

The passport will be needed by the owners of cats, dogs and ferrets and will provide proof that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. It will allow pet owners to travel more easily within the EU as they won't have to inquire about the rules in the EU country of destination.

Malta, Ireland, Sweden and the UK have been given a five-year transitional period on this matter as they normally apply stricter rules on animals entering their territory. In fact, in the case of animals coming into Malta, apart from the need to have a passport indicating whether the pet involved has been vaccinated against rabies, pets also need to have an antibody titration (a test to see if the vaccine has been effective) carried out by an approved laboratory. The new animal passport can also contain details of other vaccinations, including those not required by law, as well as information on the animal's medical history.

In order to have a passport for the animals, pet owners need only contact their vet to get their pet vaccinated and update the passport with the details of the vaccination.

An electronic microchip (transponder) - to be introduced over the next eight years by the member states - will allow for the easy identification of animals, connecting the pet to the passport.