New rules announced by the British Foreign Office make it easier and cheaper to take your pet back to the U.K.

The new regulations are introduced at the start of next year, bringing the U.K. into line with the rest of the European Union from Jan 1 2012.

Forcing pets to spend 6 months in quarantine, a practice dating from the 1800’s, is to end because of the vastly improved rabies vaccines and treatments.

However all pets will still need to be vaccinated against rabies, and pets entering the U.K. from the UE and listed non-EU countries such as the United States and Australia, will no longer need a blood test and will only have to wait 21 days before they travel.
Stricter criteria will be established on pets from other countries.

Environment Secretary, Caroline Spelmen, said:
“The UK’s quarantine system was designed to combat the threat of rabies in the 19th century and has now been left far behind by scientific advances. It’s time we changed these outdated rules which have caused hardship to generations of pets and pet owners, and those who rely on assistance dogs, with too many animals cooped up unnecessarily.

“What is needed is a simpler, evidence-based system for protecting the UK from rabies which recognises the actual risk to pets and pet owners. The EU’s pet movement scheme has been working very well for nearly a decade, and it makes sense for us to have similar rules.

The UK is also expected to announce new rules on tapeworm controls shortly, and tick treatment for pets returning to the UK will no longer be required.