Non-commercial movement of pets to LATVIA (Dogs, cats and ferrets)
There are harmonised rules regarding non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets within EU.
From 29 December 2014 new Regulation for the movement of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) will be applied: Regulation (EU) No. 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, on the non- commercial movement of pet animals and repealing Regulation (EC) No 998/2003.
Definitions of dogs, cats and ferrets according to the new regulation:
- Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)
- Cats (Felis silvestris catus)
- Ferrets (Mustela pustorius furo).
Pet animal during the non-commercial movement shall accompany the owner who is indicated in the identification document of the animal (passport) or any natural person who has authorisation in writing from the owner to carry out the non- commercial movement of the animal on behalf of the owner. „Non-commercial movement” means any movement which doesn’t have as its aim either the sale of or the transfer of ownership of the animals.
The maximum number of pet animals which may accompany the owner or an authorised person during the single non- commercial movement shall not exceed five.
By way of derogation- the maximum number of pet animals (dogs, cats, ferrets) may exceed five if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- the non- commercial movement of pet animals is for the purpose of participating in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events or in training for such events;
- the owner or the authorised person submits written evidence that the pet animals are registered either to attend the above mentioned event or with an association organising such events;
- the pet animals are more than six months old.
Where the maximum number of dogs, cats and ferrets during single non-commercial movement exceeds five, and aforementioned derogation is not applied and conditions are not fulfilled, the conditions for the commercial movement shall be applied and veterinary border checks shall be performed at the veterinary border inspection posts. In Latvia only two posts are approved to carry out these activities: in Terehova and Patarnieki.
Dogs, cats and ferrets from a territories or a third countries brought into Latvia are subject to documentary and identity checks by the customs at travellers points of entry.
Animals shall be moved from a territories or a third countries into Latvia only if they are accordingly prepared:
Identified, with valid ant-rabies vaccination, with veterinary health certificate, which includes signed declaration of the owner or the natural person who has authorization from the owner that animals are not subject to commercial movement, passport, owners or authorized natural person`s declaration in the case of transit** and rabies antibody titration test (only from risk countries)**
1. Identification – dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with transponder (microchip). Transponders must comply with the ISO standard 11784 and apply HDX or FDX-B technology and must be capable of being read by reading device (ISO Standard 11785). The identification of animals using tattoos is recognised only when the tattoo is clearly readable and was applied before 3rd July 2011. Vaccination must be done after the animal has been identified.
If anti-rabies vaccination done before identification, the vaccination must be repeated after identification!
2. Animal is accompanied by an Passport*dully completed
If you are planning movement with your animal to the third country and return back with the same animal, for the entering in EU you must have to present the valid passport. The model of the passport and additional requirements for animals returning back from countries* are detailed in the annex III parts 3. and 4. of the Regulation EU No 577/2013.
3. Anti-rabies vaccination
Dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age must be vaccinated against rabies. Vaccination must be done after the animal has been identified. After primary vaccination you must wait 21 days before travel. Booster vaccination is valid from date given provided they are given on time (according to the instructions in the vaccine manufacturers data sheet). If the revaccination date is missed your animal will not meet the conditions.
4. In addition, if you are travelling from a risk countries**, or in case of transit through such countries**, the antibody titration test performed in EC listed Laboratories is requested. No need for three month waiting period in these cases.
The authorised veterinarian collects the sample of the blood at least 30 days after the date of vaccination and not less than three month before the date of the movement.
Before the animal left the Union for the movement or transit through a territory or a third countries** the passport must confirm that the test was carried out with a favourable result.
The test needs not to be renewed on a pet animal which has been revaccinated at regular intervals prescribed by the vaccine producing laboratory.
The result of the rabies antibody level test must be at least 0.5 IE/ml.
A result of 0.5 or > 0.5 indicates an acceptable rabies antibody level and the animal can be exported if other requirements for export are fulfilled.
Result of < 0.5 indicates that the animal does not have sufficient antibody level required for export.
Bay way of derogation the test shall not be required after transit through a territory or countries** provided that the owner or authorized person provides a signed declaration (transit declaration) (Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 Annex I part 2.) that during transit the animals have had no contact with animals of species susceptible to rabies and remain secured within a means of transport.
5. From 01.11.2019. the pet animal must have a valid animal health certificate in accordance with the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1293 of July 2019 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 as regards the list of territories and third countries in Annex II and the model of animal health certificate for dogs, cats and ferrets set out in Annex IV.
For a transitional period until 28 February 2020, Member States shall authorise the entry of dogs, cats and ferrets moved into a Member State from a territory or a third country for non-commercial purposes and accompanied by an animal health certificate issued not later than 31 October 2019 in accordance with the model set out in Part 1 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 as amended by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/561.”
The certificate must have a declaration signed by the owner or the authorised person confirming that the pet animal movement is a non-commercial movement.
* Andorra, Switzerland, Faeroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State
** no titration test requested from:
Ascension Island, United Arab Emirates, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Aruba, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Barbados, Bahrain, Bermuda, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (the BES Islands), Belarus, Canada, Chile, Curaçao, Fiji, Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Cayman Islands, Saint Lucia, Montserrat, Mauritius,Nort Macedonia, Mexico, Malaysia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Russia, Singapore, Saint Helena, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Taiwan, United States of America ( including AS – American Samoa, GU- Guam, MP – Northern Mariana Islands, PR- Puertorico,VI- US Virgin Islands ), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
Action in case of non-compliance:
1. return to country or territory of dispatch;
2. isolate under official control for the time necessary to comply with the requirements;
3. put the animal down at the expense of the owner without the possibility of any financial compensation.
Entry into Finland, Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom:
Dogs must be treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2018/772
- the treatment shall be administered by a veterinarian within a period of not more than 5 days and not less than 1day before the time of scheduled entry into Finland, Ireland, Malta or the United Kingdom;
- the treatment shall be certified by the administering veterinarian in the relevant section of the passport.
More details on these web pages:
Malta Ministry for Resources &Rural Affairs
Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine
UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Non commercial movement from third countries: European Commission official webpage
Some safeguard measures in regards to animal health conditions
1. Cats from Australia are prohibited from entering the Latvia unless they are accompanied by a certificate from the Australian Veterinary Authorities confirming that at they been not been on a holding where Hendra virus has been confirmed during the 60 days prior to export; (Commission Decision 2006/146/EC)
2. Dogs and cats from Malaysia (Peninsula) are prohibited from entering Latvia unless they are accompanied by a certificate from the Malaysian veterinary authorities health certificate confirming that the cat or dog:
- has had no contact with pigs during at least the 60 days prior to export; and
- has not been resident on holdings where during the past 60 days any case of Nipah disease has been confirmed; and
- has been subjected with a negative result to an IgC capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for antibody against the Nipah disease viruses by the competent veterinary authorities on a sample of blood taken within 10 days of export.
Action in case of non-compliance:
1. return to country or territory of dispatch
2. isolate under official control for the time necessary to comply with the requirements
3. put the animal down.