VETERINARY IRELAND has welcomed the extension of a derogation to the EU pet passport system which it said will give extra protection to Ireland from pets being imported here.
On mainland Europe there is free movement of pets that have been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies and these animals do not have to go through quarantine.
Ireland and the UK had argued at the time the passport was introduced that they needed more stringent regulations to prevent the entry of certain diseases into their countries.
The diseases causing concern were rabies, the tapeworm echinococcus multilocularis which causes alveolar echinococcosis in humans, and several tick-borne diseases.
Ireland, the UK, Sweden, Finland and Malta did not have and still are clear of these diseases but they are present elsewhere in mainland Europe.
The additional safeguards allowed by the derogation were that pets entering the country not only had to be vaccinated against rabies but must also undergo a blood test to demonstrate they have developed anti-bodies to rabies.
It was also agreed pets could not travel to Ireland until six months after the date of the blood test and pets must receive a tick and tapeworm treatment prior to entry.
This derogation was due to expire next July but due to an intestine lobby by the Department of Agriculture and Irish vets, the EU decided to leave the additional safeguards attached to the passport in place until December 2011.
Alan Rossiter of Veterinary Ireland welcomed the retention of the derogation which he said would mean no change to the current system.
“What we now want to achieve is a permanent requirement that pets travelling into Ireland receive a tick and tapeworm treatment prior to entry,” he said.