Pets get their own passport for travel in Europe
From July next year, cats, dogs and ferrets in the EU will need a "pet passport" if they are to travel between Member States. However, those visiting the UK, Ireland and Sweden will need additional documentation to prove that rabies checks have been effective.
Announcing the new passport on November 27, health Commissioner David Byrne said, "This is a significant step for the free movement of people and their pets and a step that was made possible by dramatic advances made in our fight against rabies. Rabies is now close to being totally eradicated from the EU".
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Pet passports will be issued by vets.
All the documents needed by pets for travel into each Member State will be replaced by a single document, recognised throughout the EU, which means that animal lovers will not have to obey a host of different regulations in each Member State.
Visits to the vet will become more straightforward, too, as the passport will record a detailed record of the pet's medical history.
The cover of the pocket-sized passport will be emblazoned with the yellow stars and blue background of the European emblem.
The words "European Union" and the name of the country of origin will also appear on the cover, along with the pet's unique passport number.
The languages of the passport will be English and the official language of the Member State where the passport was issued.