Airline Pet Transit Regulations In Eu: Same As Import?

[Whyowhy]

Hi Guys/Gals...

I know this doesn't belong in this forum, but the animal forum is currently pre-occupied with talk about snakes only.

I want to travel with my 2 dogs (single container) as excess baggage (not cargo) to Canada. There are many transit options via EU countries but the EU has very strict/excessive import requirements. I only wish to transit via EU (and spend only a few hours in the airport waiting for connector flight). Are transit regulations the same as import? There is nothing on the net about world wide pet transit, let alone EU transit.

I hope someone with some knowledge can assist me.

Thanks.

[Guest jonzboy]

got this extract from www.defra.gov.uk, the UK agency govt for animals etc

Transhipment

If an animal comes into and leaves the UK within 48 hours from the same port or airport this is called a transhipment. If you need to tranship your pet in the UK, you must arrange this before your pet leaves the country of origin. You must ensure that, while your pet is in the UK, arrangements are in place to hold and transfer it from one plane/vessel to another for export. The travel agent/airline/ferry company should be able to arrange this or, if your pet needs to remain in the UK for up to 48 hours, provide you with the contact details of temporary holding facilities at the port of transit. No licence is required if such arrangements can be made.

Please note that not all ports and airports will be able to offer temporary holding facilities.

Where temporary holding facilities are not available, or if your pet is going to be in the UK for longer than 48 hours, it must be licensed into an authorised quarantine premises and may not be kept at the airport/port. You must contact an authorised quarantine premises, who will arrange for an import licence to be issued by AHVLA. This must be done before your pet travels to the UK. AHVLA will not issue the licence until they have received confirmation from your chosen quarantine premises that a place has been reserved for your pet. Most of the quarantine premises also act as carrying agents. Only an authorised carrying agent may transport your pet from the airport/port to the quarantine premises and back again.

I also found this at http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/animaltrade/imports/iins/pdf/general-tina1.pdf

NO ANIMALS MAY TRANSIT GREAT BRITAIN UNLESS THEY ALSO MEET

HEALTH CONDITIONS FOR IMPORT INTO GREAT BRITAIN.

generally speaking, rules applied in UK will be the same in all other EU countries

suggest you speak with British Airways Cargo direct (they don't do pets as unaccompanied baggage, they go as cargo only)

http://www.baworldcargo.com/products/liveanimals.shtml

[Whyowhy]

I received this well thought out reply from an EU pet relocation company:

It depends on your understanding of the word transit.

1. If the pet remains into and out of an intermediate EU country and the layover is less than two hours then the airline will transfer the pet traveling as checked baggage from one of their flights to another. In this case the pet does not enter the country and nothing is required.

Each airline treats the two hour rule as their own. Some airlines are strict about it as they don’t want the pet sitting in the crate on the tarmac for an extended time between flights. Others don’t seem to care. If you are on the same airline into and out of the UK the airline should handle the transfer although the procedure is a little more complicated as the pet is technically in quarantine while on the ground in the UK.

You really need to speak with the airline for the specifics.

2. If however, the pet is changing airlines then it is a problem as most airline will not interline pets. That is they will not move the pet from one airline to another airline. You then must pick up the pet at baggage claim and take it to the ticket country of the next airline and it will have to go through customs and adhere to the policies of that country.

3. If you wish to take your pet for a walk while waiting for your next flight then it has entered the country and you must comply with the regulations for that country.

EXCEPTION

Because of the way pets are handled on arrival into the UK it may become more complicated and if you are planning to transit with your pet in the UK you should discuss it with the airline you are flying but generally the above rules apply.