Vets: don't change importation rules

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14: The rules governing the importation of dogs and cats into Bermuda do not need to change to accommodate the UK’s decision to relax its borders, according to the island’s vets.

The Bermuda Vet Association says the UK should continue to be treated as ‘rabies free’ after January 1, 2012.

And it believes dog and cat owners should continue to be allowed to bring their pets on to the island without a rabies vaccination as long as they have been born and bred in the UK or spent at least six months there.

Last month Marc Bean, Minster of Environment, said that government had not changed its policy regarding the importation of animals from the U.K.

But in a speech to the House of Assembly he added: “Leaving our legislation unchanged is not an option, as we will have legislation that is ineffective.  “Therefore, some legislative change must occur.

“Our policy on the importation of dogs and cats from the UK has not changed.  However, a change will come.

“Following our review and a determination of a policy that is in the best interests of Bermuda, I will announce that policy and will ensure that a smooth transition to our new protocol will be made so that all stakeholders can plan appropriately.”

The British government will invoke the new regulations at the beginning of next year, which will permit easier entry of dogs and cats from around the world.

This will mean that forcing pets to spend six months in quarantine, a practice dating from the 1800s, when they arrive in the U.K. will no longer necessary because of improved rabies vaccines and treatments.

Vet Neil Burnie, who is also a former government vet, said: “A thorough risk assessment regarding these changes concluded that the risk of a rabies case in the U.K. will remain very low at an estimated rate of one case in an animal every 211 years, despite an estimated 100,000 animals entering the U.K. annually.

Rabies free

“The Bermuda Veterinary Association (B.V.A.) believes that Bermuda should continue to consider the U.K. to be rabies free until such time as a case of rabies has been confirmed there.

“As long as the U.K. remains rabies free, the B.V.A. recommends that dogs and cats which have resided in the U.K. since birth should be allowed entry into Bermuda with no rabies vaccination.”

The BVA says that concerns that owners in the U.S. could use the U.K. to bypass Bermuda’s regulations could be easily allayed.

Vet Andrew Madeiros said: “Dogs and cats which have entered the U.K., from countries other than those Bermuda recognizes as rabies free, must have either resided continuously in the U.K. for a minimum of 6 months immediately prior to export to Bermuda, or must comply with Bermuda’s current animal importation requirements, as stated in Section 66 of the Agriculture (Control of Animal Diseases) Regulations 1947.”

The BVA also recommended the Department for Environmental Protection look at the possibility of adopting the U.K’s new approach in two years

Its statement added: “The B.V.A. further recommends that the Department of Environmental Protection re-evaluate Bermuda’s pet importation policies in two years time, with a view to possibly adopt in full the new simplified U.K. importation regulations, unless they have proven to be ineffective.

“The B.V.A. feels that the implementation of our proposed recommendations would not jeopardize Bermuda’s current rabies free status.”

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