(i. e. countries not listed in Part 1 and 2 of Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 pursuant to Art. 13 (1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council)
Notice:
On April 26, 2024, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1130 was published in the Official Journal, which changes the rules for the non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets from Russia and Belarus to the EU. The change affected the listed list of named third countries in Annex II of Implementing Regulation (EU) 577/2013, from which Russia and Belarus were removed. The result is a tightening of the conditions for moving pets from these countries. Dogs, cats and ferrets from Russia and Belarus will have to meet the condition of serological examination of the level of antibodies against rabies when entering the EU. In this context, a press release was published on the SVS website (in Czech language).
The said implementing regulation 2024/1130 will apply from 16.9.2024.
In order to enable the return of a Czech citizen which travelled to this third country with his/her animal back to the territory of EU or, at the import of an animal, the following requirements must be met:
1. Identification of animals
Dogs, cats or ferrets must be identified by implanting of a transponder (microchip). The identification shall be performed by the authorised veterinarian of the country of dispatch. Only transponders (microchips) complying with the ISO standards for microchips and reading devices – ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 can be used for the identification. Where the transponder does not comply with these requirements, the owner or the authorised person must provide the means necessary for reading that transponder at any check.
Where dogs, cats or ferrets are identified using a tattoo and the tattoo was done not later than 2nd July 2011, a transponder (microchip) cannot be applied, provided that the tattoo is clearly readable and was demonstrably done before 3rd July 2011.
Animals must be identified by implanting of a transponder (microchip) or by a clearly readable tattoo prior to the anti-rabies vaccination!
2. Anti-rabies vaccination
Dogs, cats or ferrets over twelve weeks of age must receive the anti-rabies vaccination. The vaccination in a third country is performed by the authorised veterinarian. The anti-rabies vaccination must be performed using an inactivated vaccine of at least one international antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard) or a recombinant vaccine.
The vaccine administered in a Member State must have marketing authorisation; when administered in a third country, it must be approved by the competent authority or have marketing authorisation issued by that authority and must comply at least with the requirements established by the OIE.
For the purposes of travelling with pets, an anti-rabies vaccination shall be considered as valid:
a. 21 days from the date of completion of the vaccination protocol required by the manufacturer for the primary vaccination,
or
b. from the date of re-vaccination where the vaccine is administered within the period of validity indicated by the manufacturer of a previous vaccination. However, such re-vaccination shall be considered as a primary vaccination in the absence of the animal health certificate attesting the previous vaccination.
3. Animal health certificate or European pet passport
Dogs, cats or ferrets originating from a third country must be at their import accompanied by the animal health certificate for the non-commercial movement of dogs, cats or ferrets (in accordance with the model certificate laid down in Commission Implementation Regulation (EU) No 2019/1293) which must had been issued prior to the movement by the official veterinarian of exporting territory or third country or by the authorised veterinarian and subsequently approved by the competent authority of the territory or third country of dispatch.
Furthermore, the pet animal must be accompanied by written declaration signed by the owner or the authorised person attesting that the pet animal is to the EU moved within the non-commercial movement.
Anti-Echinococcus treatment, i.e. the treatment against the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis, as mentioned in Point II.4 of the animal health certificate, is not required by the Czech Republic.
The certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of its issue by the official veterinarian of exporting country until the date of a check at the place of entry into the EU. For the purpose of further movement into other Member States, the certificate is valid for a total of 4 months or until the date of expiry of the validity of the anti-rabies vaccination, whichever date is earlier.
In the case of the re-entry of dogs, cats or ferrets from a third country to the EU, the European pet passport shall be used instead of the animal health certificate.
Note:
At travelling with more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets, when the conditions for granting derogation are not fulfilled, at trade in such animals or when the animals do not fulfil the conditions for the non-commercial movement (see the definition of the non-commercial movement), the animals must be accompanied by the animal health certificate for the import of dogs, cats and ferrets to the European Union.
For more information we recommend to contact the State Veterinary Administration via the address epodatelna@svscr.cz.
4. Rabies antibody titration test
Dogs, cats or ferrets must undergo rabies antibody titration test. For such testing, the veterinarian shall take a blood sample 30 days after the anti-rabies vaccination at the earliest and send it to an approved laboratory.
The list of approved laboratories can be found on the official website of the European Commission:
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement/approved-labs_en
The minimum level of protective antibodies against rabies must be equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml.
The rabies antibody titration test must be performed on a sample taken not less than 3 months before the date of the non-commercial movement of the animal to the territory of the EU or the transit through a territory or third country other than listed third countries. The three-month period shall not apply to the re-entry of an animal whose passport certifies that the rabies antibody titration test was performed, with a satisfactory result, before the animal left the territory of the EU. Even though the result of rabies antibody titration test is indicated in the passport or certificate, it is necessary to have at travelling abroad also the relevant laboratory protocol (or its attested copy, respectively) containing results of the test available.
The rabies antibody titration test needs not to be renewed in an animal subjected to that testing with a satisfactory result and then re-vaccinated against rabies always during the period of validity of the previous vaccination.
Derogation
In the case of transit of dogs, cats and ferrets from listed third countries through other third countries to the EU, the performance of rabies antibody titration test is not required when the owner or the authorised person submits written declaration stating that the animals concerned have not had any contacts with wild animals of the species susceptible to rabies during the transit and that they are safely secured in the means of transport or premises of an international airport.
Approved laboratory for the detection of antibodies against rabies in the Czech Republic
The National Reference Laboratory for Rabies at the State Veterinary Institute in Prague is the only approved laboratory for the detection of antibodies against rabies in the Czech Republic.
Address of the laboratory
State Veterinary Institute in Prague
National Reference Laboratory for Rabies
Sídlištní 136/24
165 03 Praha 6 – Lysolaje
Contacts here
State veterinary institute prague (svupraha.cz)
NRL FOR RABIES – State veterinary institute prague (svupraha.cz)
Information regarding the price of the test, the method of delivery of the sample to the SVI Prague and the duration of the examination in czech language can be found on the official website of the SVI Prague, including the most frequently asked questions with answers.
When a sample is sent to the Czech Republic from a third country, the consignor thereof must in advance ask the Central Veterinary Administration of the State Veterinary Administration for the establishment of animal health import conditions. For more information, we recommend contacting the Department of External Affairs and Import and Export Control of the State Veterinary Administration via epodatelna@svscr.cz or int@svscr.cz.
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