PET TRAVEL SCHEME _g S.L.36.43 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 36.43
PET TRAVEL SCHEME REGULATIONS
13th July, 2001
LEGAL NOTICE 169 of 2001.
Title, application 
and extent.
1. (1) The title of these Regulations is Pet Travel Scheme
Regulations.
(2) These regulations shall apply in relation to pet cats and pet
dogs.
Interpretation.
requires -
''airport'' means the aggregate of the land, buildings and works
comprised in an aerodrome;
''carrier'' means any undertaking carrying goods or passengers for
hire by land, sea or air;
''cat'' means a domestic cat ( Felis catus) ;
''competent authority'' of an exporting country is the authority
responsible for animal health;
''the Director'' means the Director of Veterinary Services;
''dog'' means a domestic dog ( Canis familiaris) ;
''microchip'' means an electronic transponder;
''official health certificate'' means a certificate prepared and
distributed by the competent authority for completion and signature
by an official veterinary surgeon in relation to rabies, and by a
veterinary surgeon entitled to practice veterinary medicine in the
country in which the treatment is administered in the case of
Echinococcus multilocularis  and ticks;
''official veterinary surgeon'' means a veterinary surgeon
authorised by the Minister for the purposes of these regulations,
and outside Malta means a veterinary surgeon authorised by the
competent authority to grant certification for the purposes of the
export of dogs and cats;
Cap. 36.
''pet cats'' and ''pet dogs'' means cats and dogs which are not
traded commercially;
''recognised laboratory'' means a laboratory recognised in writing
by the Director as being competent to carry out blood tests for the
purposes of these regulations;
''Superintendent'' means the Superintendent of Public Health.
Exemption from 
quarantine for pet 
cats and pet dogs.
S.L.36.42
3. A person may bring a pet cat or pet dog into Malta without
complying with the provisions of the Importation of Dogs and Cats
Regulations, if all the conditions relating to the importation of such
2 _g S.L.36.43 PET TRAVEL SCHEME
animal in these regulations are complied with.
Means of transport. 4. (1) The animal shall be brought into Malta using a carrier
approved under regulation 8, travelling on a route specified in the
First Schedule, without leaving the vessel, aircraft or train in which
it is travelling between departure and arrival.
(2) In the event of a ship or aircraft on a schedule service
being diverted from a route specified in the First Schedule to
another place of landing in Malta, the animal shall be deemed to
have been brought into Malta at the intended place of landing. 
Identification of 
the animal.
5. (1) The animal shall be identified by means of a microchip
implanted into its body.
(2) If the carrier does not have a reader capable of reading the
microchip, the person bringing the animal into Malta shall provide
a reader for the microchip at the time the carrier checks the identity
of the animal. 
Healthb status of 
the animal.
6. (1) After it has been microchipped, the animal shall:
( a ) have been vaccinated against rabies in a country or
part of country specified in the Second Schedule after
the age of three months by an injection of an
inactivated vaccine approved by the competent
authority of the country in which the vaccination takes
place; and
( b ) have had any necessary booster injection in a country
or part of a country specified in the Second Schedule
at intervals specified by the manufacturer of the
vaccine as indicated by the competent authority.
(2) After it has been vaccinated against rabies, and at least six
months before it is brought into Malta, a blood sample must have
been taken from the animal and tested for rabies antibodies using a
virus neutralisation test at a recognised laboratory, with the result
of that test demonstrating a protective antibody titre of at least 0.5
international units per millilitre. The six month period shall begin
on the date that the sample was taken from the animal.
(3) Not less than twenty-four hours and not more than forty-
eight hours before embarkation for Malta the animal must have
been treated by a veterinary surgeon entitled to practise veterinary
medicine in the country in which the treatment is administered
against  Echinococcus multilocularis  and ticks, using a veterinary
medicine with a marketing authorisation in the country in which the
medicine is administered and at an appropriate dosage; and in the
case of treatment against  Echinococcus mutilocularis  the medicine
must contain prazinquantel as the active ingredient.
(4) The animal must not have been outside Malta or the
countries or territories in Part I of the Second Schedule 2 (or, in the
case of dogs assisting persons suffering from sensory impairment,
those territories plus the countries in Part II of that Schedule) for
the six month period immediately preceding the date it is brought
into Malta.
(5) The Director shall recognise laboratories under this
PET TRAVEL SCHEME _g S.L.36.43 3
regulation to carry out tests if he is satisfied that they are capable of
carrying out the test correctly.
(6) The Director shall publish a list of recognised laboratories
in such manner as he thinks fit.
Documentation.
certificates, one relating to rabies vaccination, including a copy of
the rabies antibodies result, and one relating to treatment for
Echinococcus multilocularis  and ticks.
(2) The official health certificates shall be signed in relation
to-
( a ) rabies by an official veterinary surgeon of a country
specified in the Second Schedule, certifying that the
certificate is accurate, and stamped by him with his
official stamp;
( b ) Echinococcus multilocularis  and ticks by a veterinary
surgeon entitled to practise veterinary medicine in the
country in which the treatment is administered.
(3) The official health certificate relating to rabies vaccination
shall contain the information specified in the Third Schedule.
(4) The official health certificate relating to  Echinococcus
multilocularis  and ticks shall state:
( a ) the date and time of the treatment;
( b ) the treatment used.
(5) In addition to the official health certificates, any person
bringing in an animal in accordance with these regulations shall, at
the time the animal is brought in, carry a written, signed declaration
in English in the form set out in the Fourth Schedule that the animal
has not been outside the territories set out in the six months
preceding the animal being brought into Malta.
(6) All certificates required under this regulation shall be in
English but may, in addition to the English text, contain a
translation in a language of any of the countries listed in the Second
Schedule. 
Carriers.
regulation to transport pets under the provisions of these
regulations if he is satisfied that:
( a ) the carrier complies with the requirements in the Fifth
Schedule;
( b ) the written procedures and contingency plans required
in that Schedule are adequate; and
( c ) the carrier will comply with these regulations, the
written procedures required in the Fifth Schedule and
any conditions of the approval.
(2) The approval shall specify:
( a ) where checks must be carried out;
( b ) the routes to be used by the approved carrier to bring
an animal into Malta; and
4 _g S.L.36.43 PET TRAVEL SCHEME
( c ) any other conditions the Director considers
appropriate. 
(3) The carrier shall provide such information to the Director
as the Director shall reasonably require. 
Duties of approved 
carriers.
9. (1) Before bringing an animal into Malta, a carrier
approved under regulation 8 shall have checked, for each animal,
that it carries all three certificates required under the provisions of
these regulations, and shall satisfy itself that:
( a ) the animal has been implanted with a microchip;
( b ) the number of the microchip corresponds with the
number of the microchip recorded in all three
certificates;
( c ) the certificates relating to rabies,  Echinoccus
multilocularis  and ticks show that -
(i) they are current;
(ii) they have been signed by an official veterinary
surgeon in relation to rabies and by a veterinary
surgeon entitled to practise veterinary medicine
in the country in which the treatment is
administered in relation to  Echinoccus
multilocularis  and ticks;
(iii) the animal has been vaccinated against rabies,
has been blood tested and has been treated
against  Echinoccus multilocularis  and ticks in
accordance with these regulations; and
( d ) the certificate relating to the animal’s place of
residence in the previous six months has been signed
by the person accompanying the animal.
(2) The checks shall be carried out in the place and in the
manner specified in the approval:
( a ) if the checks are carried out before the animal is taken
on to the means of transport, it shall be an offence for
the approved carrier to bring an animal into Malta in
accordance with these regulations unless it has carried
out the checks in subregulation (1) and is satisfied that
the animal complies with the provisions of that
subregulation;
( b ) if the checks are carried out after an animal has landed
in Malta:
(i) the approved carrier shall keep possession of the
animal at the place of arrival until it has carried
out the checks required under these regulations
and it is satisfied that the animal has been
treated in accordance with these regulations; and
PET TRAVEL SCHEME _g S.L.36.43 5
S.L.36.42
(ii) if the carrier is not satisfied that the animal has
been identified, vaccinated and blood tested in
accordance with these regulations, it shall ensure
that the animal is transferred immediately to
quarantine facilities in accordance with the
Importation of Dogs and Cats Regulations, or is
otherwise dealt with under the provisions of
those same regulations;
( c ) if after carrying out the check under subregulation (1),
whether the check is carried out before the animal is
taken on the means of transport, during transport or
after landing, the carrier is satisfied that an animal
may be brought into Malta in accordance with these
regulations, it shall:
(i) in the case of an animal being brought in by a
foot passenger or a passenger of an aircraft,
issue a certificate to the person accompanying
the animal, signed and dated by a representative
of the carrier, certifying that the animal
complies with these regulations and attach a
label to the collar of the animal or to his
carrying cage if there is one, showing the date of
importation and stating that such animal
complies with the provisions of these
regulations; or
(ii) in the case of an animal being brought in by car
or other motor vehicle, give the person a sticker
or hanger suitable for displaying on the
windscreen and indicating that the vehicle is
carrying an animal which has been checked and
found to comply with the provisions of these
regulations.
Duties at the port 
of arrival.
10. (1) A person bringing an animal into Malta in a vehicle in
accordance with these regulations shall display the sticker or
hanger given by the carrier in a prominent position on the
windscreen until the vehicle leaves the confines of the port of
arrival.
(2) A foot passenger on a ferry or a passenger on an aircraft
bringing an animal into Malta in accordance with these regulations
shall not remove the label attached by the carrier to the collar or
carrying cage until he leaves the confines of the port or airport of
arrival.
(3) A person bringing an animal into Malta in accordance with
these regulations shall produce on demand by an officer of the
Director or the local authority -
( a ) in the case of transport by ferry, in the port area;
( b ) in the case of air transport, in the airport,
all health certificates required under these regulations and, in the
case of a foot passenger, the certificate of entry given by the carrier
under the preceding regulation, and he shall make the animal
available for checking.
6 _g S.L.36.43 PET TRAVEL SCHEME
Powers of officers 
of the Director and 
local customs 
authority.
11. An officer of the Director or local authority shall have
powers to stop any vehicle displaying a windscreen sticker or
hanger indicating that an animal is being carried, or any other
vehicle in which he reasonably suspects that a cat or dog is being
carried, or any person in possession of an animal or whom he
suspects to be in possession of an animal, at any place -
( a ) in the case of transport by ferry, in the port area;
( b ) in the case of air transport, in the airport,
and may carry out any checks and searches which may be necessary
to ensure that these regulations are being complied with. 
Approvals. 12. Approval under these regulations shall be in writing, may
be made subject to conditions and may be amended, suspended or
revoked by notice in writing at any time, and in particular may be
suspended or revoked if these regulations are not being complied
with or the written procedures and contingency plans produced
under Schedule 5 to these regulations have not been complied with.
 Enforcement. 13. These regulations shall, except where otherwise provided,
be executed and enforced by the Department of Veterinary Services
assisted by the Customs Department.
 Transitory 
provisions.
14. The provisions of these regulations requiring a blood test
to be carried out at a recognised laboratory may be complied with
if, before the coming into force of these regulations, the blood
sample was sent to a laboratory to which the Director has written
confirming that he is satisfied that it is capable of correctly
carrying out any tests required by these regulations and included in
a list published by the Director, and the test was carried out after
the laboratory was included in the list.
PET TRAVEL SCHEME _g S.L.36.43 7
FIRST SCHEDULE
(Regulation 4)
PERMITTED ROUTES
By Sea
Valletta Harbour
By air
Any direct route from a country or part of a country in the Second Schedule
to Malta International Airport.
Additional permitted routes for dogs assisting persons suffering 
from sensory impairment.
By air
Any route originating in Australia or New Zealand and arriving at Malta
International Airport.
Note: The inclusion of a route in this Schedule does not imply that a carrier will be
approved to use the route.
SECOND SCHEDULE
(Regulations 6 and 7)
PERMITTED COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France (except Martinique, Guadaloupe, French Guyana, La Reunion, French
Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Moyette, St Pierre and Miquelon and New Caledonia)
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Iceland
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway (except Svalbard)
8 _g S.L.36.43 PET TRAVEL SCHEME
Portugal (including Madeira and the Azores)
San Marino
Spain (including the Canary Islands but excluding Ceuta and Melilla)
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Vatican City
Ascension Island
Australia
Barbados
Bermuda
Cyprus
Falkland Islands
Hawaii
Japan
Montserrat
New Caledonia
New Zealand
St Helena
Singapore
Vanuatu
THIRD SCHEDULE
(Regulation 7)
INFORMATION TO BE CONTAINED IN THE OFFICIAL HEALTH 
CERTIFICATE RELATING TO RABIES VACCINATION
1. The period of validity of the certificate is calculated as follows. In the case
of an animal satisfying the conditions set out in regulation 6(3), the certificate shall
become valid or on the date on which the certificate is completed. Otherwise the
certificate shall become valid on the day on which it is completed, or six months
after the date on which the sample was taken, whichever is the later. The certificate
shall cease to be valid on the date of expiry of the current vaccination. 
2. The microchip number and the location of the microchip. 
3.  A declaration that:
- the official veterinary surgeon has seen the record of rabies vaccination
for the animal, which identifies the microchip number, indicates that the
animal was vaccinated against rabies after the microchip was implanted,
and (in the case of re-vaccination) indicates that the latest vaccination
was carried out before the previous vaccination had expired in
PET TRAVEL SCHEME _g S.L.36.43 9
accordance with the recommendation in the manufacturer's data sheet
and that the latest vaccination is valid;
- the official veterinary surgeon has seen a record (certified by the
laboratory carrying out the test) of the result of a serological test for the
animal, carried out on a blood sample taken after the first vaccination
referred to above, and in a laboratory recognised by the Director of
Veterinary Services for the purpose, which states that the rabies
neutralisation antibody titre was equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml;
- the animal showed no clinical signs of rabies at the time of certification.
FOURTH SCHEDULE
(Regulation 7)
DECLARATION FOR COMPLETION BY THE PERSON BRINGING
THE ANIMAL INTO MALTA
It is an offence to bring an animal into Malta under the Pet Travel Scheme if the animal has been
outside the qualifying countries within the previous six months
QUALIFYING COUNTRIES FOR PET TRAVEL SCHEME
I declare that the animal(s) that I am presenting today for travel to MALTA with
microchip number(s)
has / have not been outside the qualifying countries of the Pet Travel Scheme in
the six months before today’s date.
Name:
Permanent
Address:
Address
in MALTA
(if different)
Vehicle registration no. (if applicable)
Signature: Date:
Andorra Netherlands Barbados
Austria Norway (b) Bermuda
Belgium Portugal (c) Cyprus
Denmark San Marino Falkland Islands
Finland Spain (d) Hawaii
France (a) Sweden Japan
Germany Switzerland Montserrat
10 _g S.L.36.43 PET TRAVEL SCHEME
(a) For these purposes France excludes Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana, La Reunion,
French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, Mayotte, St. Pierre and Miquelon and New Caledonia;
(b) For these purposes Norway excludes Svalbard;
(c) For these purposes Portugal includes Azores and Madeira;
(d) For these purposes Spain includes the Canary Islands but excludes Ceuta and Melilla.
FIFTH SCHEDULE
(Regulation 8)
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL FOR CARRIERS
1. Staff having contact with passengers who may be travelling with animals or
involved in checking animals under these regulations shall be appropriately trained.
2. The carrier shall set out in writing procedures to ensure that an animal
presented for travel under these regulations is:
a . directed to an appropriate checking point;
b . checked under these regulations;
c . transported in an appropriate part of the vessel, train or aircraft in
appropriate conditions. 
3. The carrier shall set out in writing procedures on what it will do if an animal
presented for travel fails to comply with these regulations, or if an animal is
discovered about which the carrier reasonably suspects that it is intended to be
transported to Malta without being presented to him for checking. 
4. The carrier shall set out in writing contingency plans for dealing with
emergencies, including plans for vessels being diverted to another place of landing. 
5. Adequate facilities for checking animals under these regulations shall be
provided. They shall be adequately equipped, manned and maintained. 
6. The carrier shall make arrangements for veterinary assistance to be provided
where necessary.
Gibraltar
Greece
Iceland
United Kingdom
(including Channel
Islands and the Isle of
Man)
New Caledonia
New Zealand
St Helena
Italy Vatican City Vauatu
Liechtenstein Ascension Island
Luxembourg Australia
Monaco
