IF YOU LIVE ABROAD AND WANT TO QUALIFY YOUR DOG OR CAT UNDER THE PET TRAVEL SCHEME THERE MAY BE DIFFICULTIES OR PROBLEMS THAT YOU WILL FACE. THIS PAGE IS TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

EIRE	FRANCE
HOLLAND	ITALY COMING SOON

The republic of Ireland does not operate a Pets Travel Scheme. If you wish to take your pet abroad you will have to get the preparatory work done but then you will have to re-enter via the UK and not direct from the continent. There is talk of the government setting something up soon.

To date it is not possible to get many French vets to microchip animals this is because it is as yet not a licensed procedure in France. The French governemnt authorised a trial of various microchips which ended Jan 2000. The trial was conducted on 10,000 animals. Until the trials results have been analysed and the microchipping procedure approved which is likely to be later this year vets are not allowed to chip. Some are still doing so and obtaining chips by various routes including using UK suppliers. This is fine and will work. Those vets that cannot obtain supplies have been left with a problem. In order to try to speed things up the French government has asked the UK to change its entry requirements for the Pets Travel Scheme. MAFF UK are still considering this and if agreed a derrogation to parliament should be passed April the 15th.

This would dramatically alter the process that is required and has been outlined as allowing the tattoo registration to replace the microchip and follow the procedure of, tattoo, followed by a rabies vaccination and then a blood test, at a later date during the six month waiting period a microchip can be inserted. This would only be allowed under the French registration for tattoing system and so if your pet is not tattoed this must be done first. To date despite the French government who seem to think this is a done deal there is no guarantee that this will be accepted or approved by the UK.

Meanwhile some vets are still chipping and you can follow the standard UK entry requirements so check the link on the PETS page to MAFF for a run down. Paperwork is easily obtained by vets who have internet access. Vets that are chipping are not that common but check the PETS page and you will find listed vets who have readers and are chipping. Of course there is nothing to stop you crossing the border into another qualifying country and getting your pet chipped there.

After having extended conversations with both UK and French officials the apparent confusion is becoming clearer. The british have their hands tied when it comes to the implementation of this scheme and the proposed changes in France . As a result of this there are one or two anomalies. Most importantly that if you choose to go with the French protocol it is probable that should you then try to use this paperwork in most of the other qualifying countries it will be invalid. Rather a waste of time then . The word from those in the know is that this system will be approved by the UK mid May but the French have gone ahead and introduced the system anyway. My advice if you can use the British protocol do so it will be less complicated in the long run. The French will have to allow a dual system whereby those that qualify under the British protocol must be eligible and the British authorities are already on the case here.

Should you have any difficutlties or concerns dont forget you can use our helpline which is based in France and at Petsafe our total number of animals that have completed the PETS scheme runs to nearly fifty. Of these 25 have already been helped to cross the channel to the UK some have already been and come back.

Things are as usual well organised in Holland the microchip is commonly available and so you should have no trouble ensuring that your pets can qualify. The Dutch have also got everything in place for ease of paperwork etc.