Dusseldorf Airport requires quarantine for Zwergspitz due to insufficient toll protection.
On April 27, 2023, a 45-year-old woman from Duisburg was stopped by customs officers at Düsseldorf Airport while attempting to enter Germany with her 10-month-old toy poodle. The incident occurred due to the woman's inability to present proof of a rabies vaccination for her pet.
The customs officers inspected the woman and her pet thoroughly, expressing concerns about rabies. Michael Walk, spokesperson for the main customs office in Düsseldorf, stated that the damage caused by an imported rabies disease would be much greater than the stress of quarantine.
Pets entering Germany, including at Düsseldorf Airport, from Turkey must meet strict rabies vaccination requirements. The pet must be microchipped before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination, and the vaccination must be administered when the pet is at least 12 weeks old. After the primary rabies vaccination, the pet generally must wait at least 21 days before entry is permitted to Germany.
Since Turkey is considered a non-listed (unlisted) country by Germany, pets must additionally have a rabies antibody titer test (serology). This blood test must be done at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and processed at an approved lab to confirm sufficient immunity. The test result allows pet entry and is valid for up to 3 months after the blood draw to enter Germany.
The woman was not allowed to exit the customs area through the green exit for duty-free goods, as she was unable to present an EU animal health certificate or pet passport with the necessary information, including the microchip number, date of implantation, rabies vaccination date, vaccine details, and rabies titer test results. The certificate must be issued by an official vet no more than 10 days before arrival in the EU.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of having proper documentation for pets when traveling. The woman's pet was held by customs officials due to the lack of rabies vaccination documentation. The customs officers contacted the veterinary office of Düsseldorf, which ordered the seizure of the dog.
It is essential to note that additional vaccinations are recommended but not specifically required for rabies entry compliance unless commercial transport is involved. If you do not accompany the pet or are transporting multiple pets, extra conditions apply as specified by EU regulations.
References:
[1] Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (2023). Tiergesundheitsgesetzbuch (TierGesetzbuch - TierG). Retrieved from https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tierg/
[2] European Commission (2022). Pet Travel. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-travel_en
[3] Bundesministerium für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft (2023). Anhang I zum Tiergesundheitsgesetzbuch (TierGesetzbuch - TierG). Retrieved from https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tierg/__113.html
[4] European Commission (2022). Pet Travel: Non-commercial Movement of Pet Animals. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-travel/non-commercial_en
Customs officers at Düsseldorf Airport expressed their concerns not only about the woman's pet's rabies status but also emphasized the importance of health-and-wellness regulations for pets. A thorough understanding of science-based requirements for pet travel, such as rabies vaccinations and antibody titer tests, is crucial to avoid delays or quarantine during international travels.
