Import of dogs, cats and ferrets from EU countries to Finland
These requirements concern only pets which accompany their owner or person responsible for them on behalf of the owner and which are not intended to be sold or transferred to another owner.
As of 15 March 2006 young dogs and cats aged less than three months which have not been vaccinated against rabies may be imported to Finland from rabies free countries, i.e. from the following countries:
EU/EEA-countries:
Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom
Non-EU countries::
Australia, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland
Unvaccinated young dogs and cats may be imported to Finland if the following requirements are met:
1. The animal is less than three months old at the time of import.
2. The animal has been identified by a microchip or clearly
readable tattoo.
3. The animal is imported to Finland directly from the breeder's facility where the animal was born and has been kept since birth, and the animal has not been in contact with any wild animals.
4. The animal is accompanied by a pet passport if it is imported from another EU country, Norway or Switzerland, or a certificate issued by an official veterinarian in accordance with Commission Decision 2004/824/EC if it is imported from Australia, Iceland, Japan or New Zealand.
5. The animal is accompanied by an affirmation signed by the breeder showing that the animal was born in his or her facility, it has been kept in its place of birth until the time of import and it has not been in contact with any wild animals. The affirmation is written to section XI of the pet passport or on a separate sheet.
For example, I, the undersigned, certify that the animal with microchip/tattoo no________________ was born and has been kept since its birth at my facility and has not been in contact with any wild animals. [place, date and breeder's signature]
6. If the animal is imported from Australia, Iceland, Japan or New Zealand, an appropriate dosage of medicine containing praziquantel or epsiprantel against tapeworm causing echinococcosis approved for the species concerned must be administered to the animal no more than 30 days before its arrival in Finland.
7. The animal must be transported from the country of dispatch directly to Finland. Air transport may take place via another country if the animal is kept within the international zone of the airport.
Unvaccinated young dogs and cats may not be imported to Finland from countries other than those listed above. The following EU countries are not rabies-free countries: Austria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Import of dog, cats and ferrets older than 3 months
1. Identification
The animal must be identified by a microchip or clearly readable tattoo. If the microchip does not comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785, the importer must provide the means necessary for reading the microchip. As of 3 July 2011 only a microchip will be approved as identification. The animal must be identified before the rabies vaccination.
2. Vaccination against rabies
The animal must have been vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard). The rabies vaccination and revaccination, if necessary, must have been carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturing laboratory.The animal must be identified before the rabies vaccination. The vaccination must be carried out at least 21 days before import In the booster vaccination no 21-day waiting period is required if the vaccination was administered within the period of validity of the previous vaccination.
The rabies vaccines currently applied in Finland are valid for two years if vaccination is carried out when the animal is over one year old.
3. Echinococcus treatment
Dogs and cats must be given not more than 30 days before it arrives to Finland an appropriate dosage of medicine containing praziquantel or epsiprantel against tapeworm causing echinococcosis approved for the species concerned. The medication against echinococcosis is entered to the pet passport by veterinarian.
Medication against echinococcosis is not required if the animal is imported directly from Sweden, Norway (other parts than Spitsbergen), the United Kingdom or Ireland, or if the animal is brought back to Finland within 24 hours from leaving the country. Medication against echinococcosis is also not required for animals which are less than three months old.
4. Pet passport
The animal must be accompanied by a pet passport carrying the identification information on the animal and an entry by the veterinarian concerning a valid rabies vaccination and echinococcus treatment (parts I-IV and VII).
In Finland pet passports can be obtained from veterinarians. A uniform model for the pet passport will be applied in the whole EU, and the vaccination cards used at present do not replace the new pet passport. Each Member State draws up an own version of the pet passport in accordance with a model given by Commission Decision.
Transitional period for the pet passport
If an animal has a valid vaccination certification on rabies vaccination issued prior to 1 October 2004 which attests compliance with conditions mentioned above (also contains the identification data), this certificate may be used as long as it is valid and no pet passport needs to be acquired yet. In that case the animal must be accompanied by a separate certificate on the echinococcus treatment, if needed. However, if the certificate on the rabies vaccination is issued on 1 October 2004 or later, the vaccination must be entered into the pet passport.