Movement of Pet Animals to Hungary

Non-commercial movement means movement of ‘pet animals’ which are accompanying their owners or a natural person responsible for such animals on behalf of the owner during their movement and are not intended to be sold or transferred to another owner. Requirements according to the Regulation 998/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the non-commercial movement of pet animals, as amended (hereinafter REGULATION)

1.) Identification

Pet animals shall be regarded as identified where they bear: (a) either a clearly readable tattoo; or (b) an electronic identification system (transponder). In the case referred to in point (b), where the transponder does not comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785, the owner or the natural person responsible for the pet animal on behalf of the owner must provide the means necessary for reading the transponder at the time of any inspection.

2.) Anti-rabies vaccination

At the time of movement, when the pet animal come from a third country and enter to Hungary, pet animals shall be accompanied by a veterinary certificate, issued by a veterinarian authorised by the competent authority, certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination, or revaccination if applicable, in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturing laboratory, carried out on the animal in question with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard).

3.) Blood test

If the pet animal is coming from, or through a third country not listed in part A, B, or_C of Annex II to REGULATION, and enter to Hungary, a neutralising antibody titration at least equal to 0,5 IU/ ml carried out in an approved laboratory, on a sample taken by an authorised veterinarian at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before being moved. This three-month period shall not apply to the re-entry of a pet animal whose passport certifies that the blood test was carried out, with a positive result, before the animal left the territory of the Community. In Hungary the neutralising antibody titration can be carried out in

Central Veterinary Institute 
Virological Department
Tabornok utca 2. 
HU-1149 Budapest
Tel / Fax: +36 1 460 6329 / +36 1 222 6069
E-mail: palfiv@oai.hu

4.) Passport or certification

Pet animals coming from an EU member state, listed in part A or part B section 1 A, or B, section 1 of Annex II to the REGULATION or coming from a third country listed in part B section 2 of Annex II to the REGULATION, must be accompanied a pet passport, issued by an authorized veterinarian. Pet animals coming from a third country not listed in part B section 2 of Annex II to the REGULATION, must be accompanied by a certificate issued by an official veterinarian or, on re-entry, by a passport certifying compliance with the provisions above.

5.) Quarantine

Where checks at the entry point reveal that the animal does not meet the requirements above, the competent authorities shall decide: (a) to return the animal to its country of origin; (b) to isolate the animal under official control (quarantine) for the time necessary for it to meet the health, identification or documentation requirements, at the expense of the owner or the natural person responsible for it; or (c) as a last resort, to put the animal down, without financial compensation, where its return or isolation in quarantine cannot be envisaged.

II. COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT OF DOGS, CATS AND FERRETS

Commercial movement means movement of more than five animals not accompanied by the owner of the animals, or a person responsible for the load.

Directive 92/65/EEC which lays down the requirements governing trade and imports as regards animal health, was amended by Regulation 998/2003, which ensures the uniformity of the rules applicable to trade and non-commercial movements of animals. The identification, anti-rabies vaccination and blood test (if applicable) requirements are the same, than in case of non-commercial movement.

The animals should be accompanied by a veterinary certificate for domestic dogs, cats and ferrets entering the European community for commercial movements both in English and Hungarian.

If you have any further questions, please contact:

Veterinary Border Inspection Post 
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport 
1185 Budapest Hungary 
Phone: 011-36-1-297-1060 , 011-36-1-297-1061 , 011-36-1-297-1062
( + 6hrs time difference with ET) 
Fax: 011-36-1-294-9603 E-mail: repuloter@nebih.gov.hu

You can find useful information on the website of the Hungarian Veterinary Chamber at http://maok.hu/index.php?pageid=234