§ Lord Houghton of Sowerbyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Kingdom is the only country in the European Union that imposes restrictions on the free movement of dogs between member states.
Earl Howe: No. The Republic of Ireland imposes very similar restrictions to our own. In Sweden pet dogs and cats can only enter under licence. To obtain such a licence dogs must have been vaccinated against rabies and a blood sample taken 120 days later must have shown a protective level of rabies antibodies. They must also be vaccinated against leptospira, and distemper and both dogs and cats must have been treated for echinococcus. In addition both dogs and cats need to be individually identified by implanted microchip or tattoo and certified within ten days of importation as clinically free from disease. European Council Directive 92/65 sets out the requirements for movements of commercially traded dogs and cats between EU Member States, including specific conditions for movement into UK or the Republic of Ireland.