The EU Council has published a cover note proposing amendments to animal health requirements for the import and movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets, including stricter rabies antibody testing rules and a new security feature for test reports from 2028. The changes would affect pet owners, commercial importers, and national veterinary authorities.
The document, dated 2 November 2026, originates from the Council and proposes amendments to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692, which sets out animal health conditions for the entry into the EU of certain animals. The amendments focus on updating technical rules for rabies antibody tests and introducing a requirement that test reports issued from 2028 bear a verifiable security feature to prevent fraud. The document also references Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls.
Policy orientations and trade-offs The proposed rules aim to enhance the EU's protection against rabies by ensuring reliable testing and traceability. However, they also impose additional administrative and financial burdens on pet owners and importers, who must ensure test reports meet the new security standards. The trade-off lies between strengthening public health safeguards and maintaining ease of movement for pet owners.
Impact on stakeholders - Pet owners and travellers: May face higher costs and longer waiting times for compliant test reports, especially from non-EU countries where testing infrastructure may be less developed. - Commercial importers and breeders: Will need to update their documentation processes and may incur costs for obtaining verifiable test reports, potentially affecting trade volumes. - National veterinary authorities: Will benefit from reduced fraud risk but must implement systems to verify the new security features, requiring training and resources. - EU consumers: Indirectly benefit from reduced risk of rabies introduction, enhancing public health safety.
Expected institutional follow-up The Council's cover note initiates the formal legislative process. The European Parliament and the Council will now examine the proposal under the ordinary legislative procedure. Stakeholders can expect further discussions on the technical details and implementation timelines.
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