Health certificate for temporary importation of pets
Since 2 October 2004, Regulation 998\2003\EC has been in force relating to the veterinary requirements applicable to the introduction and transfers within the territory of the European Union of domestic animals (dogs, cats, ferrets, etc.) accompanying travelers and without commercial purposes.
Every pet coming from the United States must have a certificato veterinario europeo. The new format of the certificate was approved by Decisione della Commissione 2011/874/EC on 15 December 2011. Pets must:
- be identifiable by legible tattoo or microchip;
- be vaccinated against rabies with current vaccinations.
For the introduction of companion (or domestic) animals into Italy from third countries, it is not necessary to carry out preventive treatments against ticks and echinococcus.
For pets coming from the United States, Annex II, part C of Regulation 998\2003\EC also provides that vaccination must not be accompanied by a blood test for the titration of antibodies against rabies. The “Department of Agriculture” of the United States publishes Regulation 998\2003\CE and the European veterinary certificate model on its website.
It is possible to bring with you, in Italy, a maximum of 5 pets, included in the following list:
• birds (small, with the exception of parrots – see below),
• dogs, cats, fish (small),
• ranidae (common frogs),
• straight municipalities,
• rodents (excluding rabbits and hares),
• lacertids (lizards and lizards),
• testudines (land turtles).
Accompanying animals may only be brought into Italy together with the owner and only if provided with a certificate certifying the animal’s good health. The certificate must NOT be legalized by the Consulate General, the signature of the veterinarian of the county of residence is sufficient.
Following the traveler, the introduction into Italy of n. 2 parrots of the larger species and n. 4 subjects for the smaller species as long as the animals are accompanied by a health certificate, issued by the Official Veterinary Service of the country of origin, certifying that the animals come from a locality in which, for a radius of 20 km, no cases of psittacosis in the last 12 months.