Hi all,

I realise this question has been done to death, but I keep getting conflicting advice.

My dad lives in Cyprus and wants to buy a puppy from the UK and take it over there.  Some people have told me that if the puppy flies at 8 weeks, there is no need for the rabies, quarantine etc... yet other people (who have done it recently) say the puppy must be given the rabies vaccine at 12 weeks and can't travel until 21 days later.  The government website isn't particularly helpful regarding puppies specifically (if the rules are indeed different for them) and it certainly implies that the 21 day rule is only for re-entering the UK.  So please, can someone give me a total idiots guide for getting a puppy to my Dad (it will fly accompanied by one of us) in Cyprus?

Thanks in advance,

Clare

Here is the page from the Cyprus government; a rabies vaccination at three months and a pet passport is required. The animal then has to wait a further month before being imported.

There is useful information here.

Bottom line, for me 8 weeks is too young to be subjecting a puppy to this kind of trauma, even if it is a short flight, comparatively.   I had two youngsters flown out of the UK to Canada, at 5 and 7 months.   I also flew, with, a puppy from the UK to Geneva, but he was over 4 months which for me, is plenty young enough.

Can't your dad wait a little before bringing this puppy to Cyprus.

Re rabies.   Coming from the UK where there is no rabies (yet!) your puppy would only need a Health Certificate in any case.    If rabies vaccination is needed, that can be given, and is better too, once he's over there.    The puppies I had both in Canada (and same goes for those I took from the UK to Canada with me when we went over there) and the one flown to Geneva didn't have rabies before going.

Rabies vaccination and a delay before coming, would apply to re-entry to the UK, if it was to happen.   Again because unlike other EU member states, there is NO rabies in the UK.

Thanks both - interestingly you both give different advice about rabies... which is the problem I keep coming up against :-) :-) :-)  The government website makes it sound like a blanket rule for all dogs.

Re: waiting, yes my Dad can certainly wait and will wait if that's the right thing to do (the pup can actually stay with me until it's ready, so this is no problem).  In my experience of Labradors, and on the advice of others who have exported/imported, it seems a more manageable task with an 8 week old puppy... I would imagine the whole experience would be forgotten instantly in one so young.  But we'll certainly seek further advice and experience on this. 

>Coming from the UK where there is no rabies (yet!) your puppy would only need a Health Certificate in any case.

Not according to the Cyprus government pages. A rabies vaccine and full pet passport is required; no dog, cat or ferret can be imported into Cyprus under the age of 111 days.

In my experience of Labradors, and on the advice of others who have exported/imported, it seems a more manageable task with an 8 week old puppy... I would imagine the whole experience would be forgotten instantly in one so young. 

Agree. I am sending a pup to Spain (there it can be done without rabies if under 12 weeks) and the buyer has imported twice before, same breed, and says the older pup found it very traumatic indeed whereas the younger one coped much better and got over it easier.

I have exported and agree the younger pups cope best.

Again the rules as far as Cyprus is concerned, applies to EU countries.   Yes GB is a member of the EU but as far as rabies is concerned, as there is NO rabies in the UK, I think you'll find Cyprus can't require rabies vaccination for entry there.   No rabies - no possibility of rabies being involved.

Check with your UK vet - and also the airlines.   And maybe on the website stating this?   Again I have exported from the UK to Canada and to Switzerland without any need for rabies prior to departure.

I'd suggest that (age) would depend on the individual and the breed.   Again I'd NOT export, or subject a puppy of under 4 months, to a flight.   However brief - and the flight duration is only part of the whole experience and is NOT something I'd put any young puppy through.

I think you'll find Cyprus can't require rabies vaccination for entry there.   No rabies - no possibility of rabies being involved.

There is no rabies in Ireland(Eire as opposed to NI) yet to take a dog to Ireland a full Pet Passport is now required. & the same goes for dogs travelling from Ireland to the UK

"(1) Dogs, cats and ferrets prepared for the Pet Travel Scheme in, or returning to the UK from the Republic of Cyprus, may enter or re-enter the UK without a blood test. However, animals travelling from north Cyprus (the area north of the Buffer Zone) must be blood sampled at least 30 days after vaccination against rabies and wait 3 months before travelling to the UK"

BTW EU countries can set any requirements they wish for animals being imported from countries without rabies

I'm afraid that EU law takes precedence over national law (or common sense!); a rabies vaccination and passport is required for travel between all EU countries. Canada and Switzerland aren't of course in the EU and can set their own rules.

"Properly identified and vaccinated pet animals may travel freely in mainland Europe, provided they have an EU Pet Passport...

The inclusion of Cyprus in the EU means that the EU Pet Passport scheme is now in practice. "

Taken from here.

Further details. (taken from the previous Cyprus link.)

I have written to DEFRA asking specifically about UK to Cyprus because I'm still also confused about the need for a Pet Passport from a country that is rabies-free, and the fact that presumably? this dog isn't coming back to the UK.

Fact is I exported, some while ago now, a 4 - month old puppy from here to Geneva, Switzerland with only the need for a Health Certificate - no PP and no rabies.   I do note the fact that neither Switzerland, nor Canada for that matter, are within the EU.

I'll post more here, if/when I hear back from DEFRA

The rules for movement of pets across the EU where harmonised on 1st January 2012. As a result England and Ireland must follow same rules as rest of EU regardless of fact we are rabies free, hence passport required to travel between England and Southern Ireland. This also affects age pups can now be exported as you must have passport issued.

Despite fact we are rabies free this has affected export to Australia significantly as we are now in same classification as rest of Europe so rabies vaccine, titre and six month wait prior to shipping and one month quarantine on arrival. Previously pups could travel at twelve weeks ( minimum age for airline) no rabies vaccine

K

Fiona Fraser
Pet Exports Team Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA)
Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Hadrian House
Wavell Drive
Carlisle
CA1 2TB

I emailed  DEFRA about this, and received an email back from the above, asking whether the dog was going to North, or Southern Cyprus because the requirements differ.   It might be worth contacting this person for further information?   I'll go back and pick up her email address......Petexports.carlisle@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk

Her comments ..... 

"As export requirements differ depending on which part of Cyprus your pet will travel to, can I ask you to please confirm will the export be to Northern Cyprus or Southern Cyprus?"

Here are the requirements for entering Northern Cyprus. As you can see it states: "...They do everything, except the rabies jab which you have to have at least 30 days before importing your pet into Cyprus. "

Just adding on to the end here. I said earlier on that a puppy can go to Spain without rabies under 12 weeks. My puppy buyer in Spain (lady who used to live in the UK and already has the breed) phoned yesterday saying she had just found out this is not the case -the pup has to have been rabies vaccinated at 3 months and then wait the usual 21 days, like for entry to the UK. (So I will keep this pup longer and start socialising and training him.) Just thought I best add it in case the thread shows up in Google searches as it should not contain incorrect information then.

In January 2012 the entry requirements were harmonised throught the whole EU; that's when we gave up our special relationship with Eire, and rabies vax and pet passports were officially required. Incidentally, if Scotland votes for independence and stays in the EU then passports will also be required for pet travel between England and Scotland - there are no exceptions!

Correct on all counts jeangenie

Yep I think it has changed now for all EU to be the same, chip, 3 months for Rabies pet passport and then 21 day wait.

Sweden still had the old rules as late as June 2012 as I brought a kitten over then without rabies vaccination.

But Sweden are not EU.

Yes they are -it is Norway that isn't.

OH didn't realise that, probably confused as they like us don't use the Euro like Finland does.

Don't understand how they get away with that one if we can't, due to having to harmonise, hence the ridiculous thing with Ireland.

I wonder how many people sending pups to Ireland will simply go to Northern Ireland (part of the UK) and simply drive down south with unpassported pups, as there is no border control between Eire and the North (or is there?)..