Guidance

Commercial import of dogs, cats and ferrets - Import Information Note (IIN) BLLV/5b

Updated 22 April 2025

1. General information 

This Import Information Note (IIN) must be read in conjunction with the IIN for general information for imports of live animals and germplasm, which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more. 

References to European Union (EU) legislation within this document are references to direct EU legislation which has been assimilated in Great Britain (assimilated direct legislation), as defined in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and can be viewed on the United Kingdom (UK) legislation website. 

2. Scope 

The import of cats, dogs and ferrets is governed by two regimes, the “Balai regime” (including the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011, which implemented the ‘Balai’ directive (92/65/EC)) for what are termed ‘commercial movements’ and the Pet Travel Regulations (Assimilated Regulation (EU) 576/2013, Assimilated Regulation (EU) 577/2013 and Assimilated Regulation (EU) 2018/772) for cats, dogs and ferrets that comply with pet requirements. It is important that cats, dogs and ferrets travel under the correct regime for the type of movement.

This IIN covers the commercial movement for the trade in cats, dogs and ferrets, which are governed by the Balai regime. It also covers:

• the movements of groups of more than 5 cats, dogs or ferrets per person travelling
  
  
• the movement of cats, dogs and ferrets involving a change of ownership and/or for rehoming, including rescue animals (see below)
  
  
• pet animals that are not able to fulfil the requirement of the pet travel regulation for travelling within 5 days of their owner or owner’s representative.

This IIN does not cover the movement of pet animals that comply with the Pet Travel rules (Regulation (EU) 576/2013), such as 5 or fewer cats, dogs or ferrets, being accompanied by their owner or owner’s representative within 5 days of movement, and not intended to be sold or transferred to another owner or travelling for a competition or event.  

Find more information about pet travel movements 

Rescue animals or animals being moved for rehoming are classed as commercial movements. They must therefore travel under the requirements of the Balai regime. 

3. Great Britain and Crown Dependencies 

Trade movements between Great Britain (GB), the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are treated as national movements and as such, no animal health conditions are applicable. 

4. Northern Ireland (NI)  

Trade movements from NI to GB are treated as national movements and as such, no animal health conditions are applicable. 

Find more information on movements from NI to GB

5. Country of origin 

Imports of dogs, cats or ferrets into GB are authorised only from trading partners listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 577/2013 and in documents published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers. See the documents for equidae or fresh meat of ungulates for:

• non-EU countries
• EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries

Under The Aquatic Animal Health and Alien Species in Aquaculture, Animals, and Marketing of Seed, Plant and Propagating Material (Legislative Functions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020, all EU Member States have been added to the list contained in Part I of Annex II of Regulation (EU) 577/2013. This means movements from the EU should be treated in accordance with the conditions laid down in section 6.

Dogs, cats and ferrets from countries that are not listed are not permitted to be commercially imported into GB.

6. Imports from approved countries listed in Regulation (EU) 577/2013 

Cats, dogs and ferrets imported from countries listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 577/2013 must:

• come from a premises registered by the competent authority of origin
  
  
• have been identified by a microchip (or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011) prior to vaccination
  
  
• after 12 weeks of age, have been vaccinated against rabies
  
  
• have waited for a minimum of 21 days before travelling after vaccination (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations). If the vaccine datasheet states immunity is demonstrated greater than 21 days (for example 30 days) then the valid from date must be in accordance with the datasheet (for example, 30 days instead of the minimum 21 days)
  
  
• in the case of dogs, have received anti-Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm) treatment with an approved product not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours prior to arrival in GB

If these conditions can be met, no licence will be required under the Rabies (Importation of  Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. If these conditions cannot be met the animals will require a licence and must be quarantined. Contact the Animal and Plant Health (APHA) imports team for more information.

Guidance on how to put your pet in rabies quarantine

7. Imports from approved countries that are not listed in Regulation (EU) 577/2013

Dogs, cats and ferrets from countries not listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 577/2013 can still be imported into GB provided they come from territories and countries listed in the documents for Equidae or Fresh meat of ungulates published by the Secretary of State, with the consent of the Scottish and Welsh Ministers, for:

• non-EU countries
• EU and EFTA countries

Cats, dogs and ferrets imported from these approved countries must come from a premises registered by the competent authority of origin and meet the following health requirements:

• they must have been identified by a microchip (or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 03 July 2011) prior to vaccination
  
  
• after 12 weeks of age, they must have been vaccinated against rabies
  
  
• at least 30 days after the primary course of vaccination within a current valid vaccination series (or the last of the primary course of vaccinations) a blood sample must be drawn and sent to a European Union (EU) approved laboratory (designated laboratories for performing rabies antibody titration tests) for testing
  
  
• a satisfactory blood test result must show the rabies antibody titre was equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml
  
  
• the animal must complete a waiting period of 3 calendar months after the date that the blood sample was drawn
  
  
• in the case of dogs, have received anit-Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm) treatment with an approved product not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours prior to arrival in GB

If these conditions can be met, no licence will be required under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974. If these conditions cannot be met the animals will require a licence and must be quarantined.    

8. Health certification 

Imports to GB must be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate based on the GB model health certificate for commercial dogs, cats and ferrets.

The health certificate must be obtained through the Competent Authority of the country they are being exported from.

Model health certificates for commercial dogs, cats and ferrets

9. Additional information for hybrid cats and dogs 

The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) applies to the species in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 576/2013, which are Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), Cats (Felis silvestris catus) and Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).  

Please be aware that an F1 hybrid cat or dog cannot enter GB under the scope of Regulation (EU) 576/2013.  

F1 hybrids and other non-domestic species should be imported in line with the requirements of the IIN for the import of certain rabies susceptible animals under the Balai Directive (BLLV/5a).  

In addition, the import of some hybrid cats and dogs, up to and including F4 generation may require export and import certificates under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and/or under Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976. 

Import or export endangered species: check if you need a CITES permit

10. Welfare in transport

Anyone who handles or transports dogs and cats must do it in a way that does not, or is not likely to, cause injury or suffering to them.

Additional rules apply to cats, dogs and ferrets that are transported in connection with an economic activity (commercial) on journeys over 65km.

Find out more on Animal welfare in transport.

Or contact the APHA welfare in transport team at WIT@apha.gov.uk.

11. Contact for further information  

For more information about import requirements, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team at imports@apha.gov.uk.

You can also contact both the imports and welfare in transport teams at:

Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

Telephone: 03000 200 301