Skip to main content
European Commission logo
en
Food, Farming, Fisheries
Food Safety

Movements within the EU

Conditions

Specific animal health requirements for movements within the EU of dogs, cats and ferrets are laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/688 as amended. Accordingly, the following conditions must be met.

Establishments of origin

Dogs, cats and ferrets must come from establishments registered by the competent authority. If the establishment of origin is a shelter or an assembly centre of dogs, cats and ferrets, it must be approved by the competent authority. In the establishment of origin, infection with rabies virus must not have been reported during the 30-day period prior to departure, and there must have been no abnormal mortalities of undetermined cause within the same period.

Identification

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified by the implantation of a microchip approved by the competent authority (see technical specifications in Article 70a of Commission Delegated Regulation 2019/2035).

Rabies vaccination

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies by an official or an authorised veterinarian in accordance with Annex VII, Part 1 (validity requirements for anti-rabies vaccinations for dogs, cats, ferrets and other carnivores) to Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/688 as amended, as follows:

  • The animal must be at least 12 weeks old on the date the primary vaccine was administered.
  • The date of administration of the vaccine must not precede the date of identification or reading of the microchip.
  • The period of validity of the vaccination must start no fewer than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination, and any subsequent vaccination must have been carried out within the period of validity of the preceding vaccination.

Treatment against tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis

Dogs must be treated against the parasite Echinococcus multilocularis prior to entering:

  • any EU country listed in Annex XIX to Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/620, (Finland, Ireland and Malta).
  • the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland).
  • Norway.

In accordance with Annex VII, Part 2 (risk-mitigating measures for infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis) to Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/688 as amended, the treatment must:

  • Consist of an approved veterinary medicinal product which contains the appropriate dose of praziquantel or pharmacologically active substances which alone or in combination has been proven to reduce the burden of mature and immature intestinal forms of Echinococcus multilocularis in the host species concerned.
  • Be administered by a veterinarian within a period of not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the time of scheduled entry.
  • Be certified by the administering veterinarian in the relevant section of the passport.

Clinical examination

Within 48 hours prior to the time of dispatch, dogs, cats and ferrets must undergo a clinical examination carried out by an authorised veterinarian, who must verify that the animals show no signs of diseases.

Passport

Each individual dog, cat or ferret must have its own passport (see model in Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation 2026/705), issued by an official or an authorised veterinarian and documenting:

  • alpha-numeric code displayed by the microchip or the tattoo.
  • details of the vaccination against rabies.
  • details of the treatment against tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis), where applicable.
  • details of the clinical examination.

Health certificate

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be accompanied to the place of destination by an individual health certificate (model in chapter 61 of Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/403 as amended), issued by an official veterinarian of the EU country of dispatch. The veterinarian must:

  • state the registration or approval number assigned to the establishment of origin by the competent authority and the passport number of each animal of the consignment.
  • attest that the clinical examination was carried out.
  • notify the movement to the competent authorities of destination through the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES).

Exceptions

Identification

Dogs, cats, and ferrets may travel between EU countries if identified by one of the following:

  • a microchip inserted in accordance with Article 17 and Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 before 22 April 2026, or
  • a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011.

Rabies vaccination

Certain EU countries authorise Intra-EU movement of young dogs, cats and ferrets which are:

  • less than 12 weeks old and have not received an anti-rabies vaccination

or

  • are between 12 and 16 weeks old and have received an anti-rabies vaccination, but 21 days have not elapsed since the completion of the vaccination protocol for the primary vaccination against rabies carried out in accordance with the validity requirements set out in Annex VII, Part 1 to Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/688.
  • In that case, the animals must be accompanied by either:
    • a declaration of the owner (see model set out Annex V, Part 4 to Commission Implementing Regulation 2026/705) attached to the health certificate stating that from birth until the time of dispatch, the animals have had no contact with wild animals of species susceptible to rabies, or
    • their mother whom they still depend on and from the passport of their mother it can be established that the mother received before their birth an anti-rabies vaccination which complied with the validity requirements set out in Annex VII, Part 1 to Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/688.

More information can be found on “Young Animals”

Treatment against tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis

Dogs moved directly between EU countries listed in Annex XIX to Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/620, (Finland, Ireland, Malta and United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)) or Norway are exempted from the treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.

Passport

Dogs, cats, and ferrets may travel between EU countries if they are accompanied by a valid EU passport issued under one of the following models:

  1. Passports issued under older rules:
  2. Passports issued under transitional rules:
    • Model in Part 1 of Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013, issued before 1 January 2028.
       

Note: All passports listed above remain valid for the lifetime of the animal, provided they comply with the original issuing regulations.

Purpose of movement and number of animals moved

Dogs, cats and ferrets moved for non-commercial purposes in a number of more than five may be exempt from the aforementioned rules provided that:

  • their movement is for the purpose of participating in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events or in training for such event, and
  • the owner or authorised person submits written evidence that the animals are registered either to attend the event or with an association organising such events
  • the animals are more than six months old.

Re-homing of dogs, cats and ferrets

The movements of dogs, cats and ferrets sourced from shelters must comply with the animal health conditions applicable to movement within the EU.