The EU has updated the rules for transporting pets from third countries
As of April 22, the European Union has introduced updated rules for the non-commercial movement of pets from third countries.
This was reported by the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
The State Service emphasizes that the basic requirements remain unchanged: microchip identification, valid rabies vaccination, an antibody titer test, and an international veterinary certificate.
At the same time, the new rules detail the procedures for document processing and animal transport.
According to the updated requirements:
- the veterinary certificate must now specify the animal’s owner, even if the transport is carried out by another person;
- transportation is permitted only within five days before or after the owner’s trip;
- a clear validity period has been established for the antibody titer test—it must be conducted no less than 90 days prior to the issuance of the certificate;
- New forms for accompanying documents have been approved.
Separately, for pet birds, an additional declaration has been introduced to confirm the conditions of their care upon arrival in an EU country.
The EU has established transition periods:
- for dogs, cats, and ferrets—until March 31, 2027;
- for pet birds — until October 1, 2026 (provided the certificate is obtained in advance).
The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection emphasizes that the update to the rules does not create additional restrictions but is intended to make procedures more transparent and predictable.
As of April 10, the Entry/Exit System (EES), which digitizes border crossing control, has become fully operational at all external borders of the European Union.
The Finnish government has submitted a bill to parliament that provides for stricter deportation rules and entry bans for foreigners.
