Information for private individuals - Pets

I. Dogs, cats and ferrets

The European Union adopted new measures for the importation of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) into the EU member states.

In order to bring their dogs, cats and ferrets from the United States into France, travelers must abide by the following conditions:

each family is limited to 5 animals.

every animal must be identified by a microchip (standard ISO 11784 or annex A ISO standard 11785) or a tatoo. If the microchip’s standard is different, you must bring your own scanner in order to read the microchip. In the United States, you may acquire the microchip standard ISO 11784 on the web at : http://pettravelstore.com. It should be implanted only by a veterinarian.

every animal must have a valid rabies vaccination, even if less than 3 months old. If it is the first rabies vaccination for the pet, you must wait 21 days between the last shot of the vaccination protocol and departure.

the health certificate will be valid for 4 months after signature by an official veterinarian (certified by the USDA) or endorsement by the competent authority (USDA). The list of USDA Area Offices of Veterinary Services may be consulted at the following URL address: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/
the blood test is not required for animals coming from Canada and the United States.

Certificate

Notice:

Pets travelling to France/Europe from Porto Rico must be subjected to the rabies serological test mentioned in paragraph V. of the veterinary certificate. This comes in addition of the identification and rabies vaccination requirements. The blood sample for the test must not be taken sooner than 30 days after the vaccination. The test must be performed by the laboratory at least 3 months before the pets travel to France/Europe.

The list of laboratories approved for this test by the European Union is at http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/approval_en.htm

II. Domestic pet rodents (rabbits, hamsters, mice…

You may bring into France a maximum of 5 domestic rodents. A health certificate (in French), executed not more than ten days prior to arrival into France by a national licensed veterinarian of the country of export must accompany the rodent.

Pets bilingual

III. Pets reptiles not intended for sale

You may bring into France a maximum of 5 pet reptiles (by family), provided:

they are not sold under any circumstances;

they are accompanied by a health certificate executed not more than ten days prior to arrival and bearing the signature of a licensed veterinarian of the country of export;

they must be free of evidence of disease (in particular, of lesions of the skin).

Pets bilingual

IV. Pet birds

WARNING: The EC regulations regarding the movements of pet birds have been modified in response to the avian influenza alert (bird flu). The regulations below remain applicable until further instructions.

Pet birds may be brought to France solely at the following conditions:

1. Each family is limited to 5 birds;

2. ONE of the following conditions must be undergone:

a. Each bird must have undergone a 30 days pre-export isolation in the place of departure (both the US and Canada are concerned);

OR

b. Each bird must undergo quarantine for 30 days after import in France on approved premises;

OR

c. Each bird must have been vaccinated, and at least on one occasion re-vaccinated, against avian influenza using an H5 vaccine approved for the species concerned in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions; the bird must have been vaccinated within the last six months and not later than 60 days prior to dispatch from the third country;

OR

d. Each bird must have been in isolation for at least 10 days before departure and must have undergone a test to detect the H5N1 antigen or genome carried out on a sample taken not earlier than the third day of isolation.

3. Compliance with the above conditions must be certified by an official veterinarian in accordance with the approved model certificate. The document linked below provides an English and a French version of the same approved model certificate. Both versions must be completed and signed by the competent authorities in the US. The French version will be requested by the French authorities upon arrival in France.