Importing and exporting animals

This page provides information about importing animals into the UK and exporting them to overseas countries.

Importing animals into the UK

Quarantine regulations are still in force in the UK and it is illegal to disobey them.

However, regulations for the importation of animals from Europe have been revised and for the latest information you should contact the Pet Travel Scheme Helpline on 0870 241 1710 or visit the Pet Travel Scheme section of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website.

You can obtain more information from the quarantine section of the Defra website.

Exporting animals to overseas countries

You should contact Defra before you export animals. The rules that you need to follow will depend on the country the animals are going to.