Pet animals
The Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (last amended by the Regulation No 438/2010) regulate travelling with pet animals. Non-commercial entry of pet animals accompanying the travellers into Estonia from non-Community countries is allowed through all the border crossing points that are opened for international traffic, including the border crossing points for travellers, and the Estonian Tax and Customs Board is executing supervision thereof. The requirements established for movement of pet animals between the EU Member States apply also if they arrive from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican.
For the purposes of the above-mentioned regulation the pet animals are:
- dogs, cats, ferrets
- invertebrates (except bees and crustaceans), ornamental tropical fish, amphibian and reptiles
- birds: all species (except poultry covered by Council Directives 90/539/EEC and 92/65/EEC)
- mammals: rodents and domestic rabbits
No uniform requirements concerning rabies have been established in respect of invertebrates, ornamental tropical fish, birds, rodents or domestic rabbits; the animals must be in good health.
1. Entry requirements to Estonia from non-EU countries
- Identification – it must be possible to identify pet animals according to a clearly readable tattoo or an implanted transponder complying with ISO Standard 11784 or with Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. If the transponder does not comply with ISO Standards, the traveller must have with him the means needed for reading the transponder.
- Certification – pet animals must be accompanied with a veterinary certificate (model of the certificate is laid down with the European Commission Decision 2004/824). Model of the veterinary certificate in different languages is accessible for downloading here.
- Vaccination – Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 divides non-Community countries into groups depending on the prevailing rabies situation in these countries.
In Annex II Section C of the Regulation 998/2003 the third countries where the rabies situation is considered to be satisfactory are listed. Pet animals arriving from these countries must have effective vaccination to rabies.
Dogs, cats and ferrets arriving from third countries, which are not listed in Annex II Section C of the Regulation 998/2003 must in addition to vaccination be tested in a rabies testing authorised laboratory, where a neutralising antibody titration must be carried out three months before the animals arrive in Estonia.
Consequently, all the pet animals over three months of age must have undergone anti-rabies vaccination, whereas the first vaccination must have been done at least 21 days before arrival in Estonia. Section IV of the veterinary certificate issued for pet animals must contain the confirmation of a veterinarian, date of vaccination and the validity period of vaccination.
If the pet animal was purchased in a non-Community country, it will be regarded as goods and in that case the rules for movement of goods are applied in respect of such pet animal – meaning the declaration and payment of taxes. Please consult also Customs regulations for travellers arriving to the European Union from non-Community countries.
If more than 5 pet animals accompany the traveller, they are allowed to enter Estonia only through the specially designated border points that have the facilities for conducting the veterinary controls. At the Estonian borders there is no such designated border point and therefore, the pet animals must first undergo veterinary controls in another Member State prior to entry in Estonia. The closest road border point is Terehovo in Latvia; and in bigger airports of Prague, Vienna, Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Vilnius and Frankfurt. The pet animals must be declared, they must have a veterinary certificate and they are subject to veterinary controls at the border.
2. Requirements for travelling out of the European Union with pet animals
- Identification – pet animals must have an implanted transponder or a tattoo. Starting from 3 July 2011 all the pet animals must have an implanted transponder.
- Accompanying document – pet animals must be accompanied by a passport issued in compliance with the model provided in the Annex to the European Commission Decision 2003/803/EU.
- Vaccination and antibody titration – pet animals must be vaccinated to rabies. Some countries require that pet animals must have undergone antibody titration in addition to vaccination. Only an authorised laboratory may do antibody titration. In Estonia, the Veterinary and Food Laboratory is the authorised laboratory for doing rabies antibody tests.
- Some countries require also protection against fleas and Echinococcosis.
3. Further information on travelling with pet animals is available:
Veterinary and Food Board
E-mail: vet
agri.ee, phone +372 605 1710, fax +372 621 1441
Before starting the journey with pet animals it is recommended to learn what requirements have been established in a destination country.
Elika Brosman
Chief Specialist of Customs Control Division of the Estonian Tax and Customs Board
tel (+372) 676 1777, elika.brosmanemta.ee