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<p>Defra takes the threat to public and animal health posed by animals entering the
United Kingdom (UK) very seriously and requires rabies vaccination for pet animals
(cats, dogs and ferrets) entering the country, as well as other high risk species
entering zoos or pets destined for the pet trade.</p><p> </p><p>Pet travel between
EU member states and from some other lower risk third countries requires a rabies
vaccination followed by a 21 day waiting period. For third countries with higher rabies
risk, stricter rules apply involving a rabies antibody titration test and waiting
period. A quantitative risk assessment was carried out in 2011, which assessed the
risk of a pet animal with rabies entering the UK under the EU Pet Travel Scheme (PTS)
as very low. Since then, there have been no rabies incursions in the UK, but Defra
continues to monitor the disease situation and will undertake a further formal risk
assessment if evidence indicates that one is warranted.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
has no immediate plans to change the rabies regime in the short term after the UK’
leaves the EU. For entry into the UK the current pet travel health requirements will
continue to apply, although additional controls could be considered at a later date.</p>
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