The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a new ‘Approved Importers scheme’ for pet imports from currently higher-risk countries.

The scheme, introduced on Tuesday (October 25), will replace the temporary ban on commercial imports, including rescue animals, from Belarus, Poland, Romania and Ukraine.

Anyone commercially importing dogs, cats and ferrets into Great Britain from the previously suspended countries can now apply for Approved Importer status with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) from October 29, 2022.

In order to be approved, importers must be based or have representation in the UK, have no record of serious non-compliances in the last 12 months, and share with APHA the details of the transporter and their premises.

Defra said the move is being taken as an increasing number of people are choosing to import pets from abroad with the hope of rehoming them, unaware of the associated health and welfare risks.

Chief veterinary officer, Christine Middlemiss, said: “Commercial imports, including rescue animals, are often of unknown background and disease status.”

"This will help protect animal and human health," she said.

Biosecurity minister, Lord Benyon, said: “We are committed to ensuring safe commercial pet movements including rescues can continue and stopping those which carry too great a biosecurity risk.” 

“The new scheme means we can safely lift the temporary suspension and allow only for safe movements from APHA-approved importers, helping to ensure we maintain our biosecurity standards and our vital rabies-free status.”

Before legally importing animals into Great Britain, approved importers will now be required to: