From September 16, all dogs, cats, and ferrets entering Estonia and other EU countries from Russia and Belarus must be vaccinated against rabies and have their antibody titers determined. This change also affects cats, dogs, and ferrets that traveled from Estonia to Russia and Belarus when they return.

Commission Regulations (EU) 2024/1130 and 2024/1170 establish the requirement that dogs, cats, and ferrets imported from Russia and Belarus must undergo a rabies antibody titration test before entering the territory of the European Union. The change affects both commercial transportation and travel with pets.

Requirements for determining rabies antibody titers:

  • The rabies antibody titer must be determined from the animal's blood sample starting 30 days after vaccination, in an approved laboratory. The qualifying titer is 0.5 IU/ml or higher. There must be at least three months between determining the appropriate antibody titer and movement (i.e., at least three months must pass from the date of blood sampling before the pet can enter the EU).
  • Test validity: The test should not be repeated after obtaining a satisfactory result (0.5 IU/ml or higher) provided that the animal is revaccinated against rabies during the validity period of the previous vaccination.
  • Therefore, if a puppy or kitten was vaccinated at 12 weeks of age and the rabies antibody titer was determined 30 days later, the minimum age of the animal for entry into Estonia is approximately 7 months (12 weeks + 30 days + 3 months).

Upon re-entry into Estonia

If you are traveling with a dog, cat, or ferret from Estonia to Russia or Belarus and return to Estonia after 16.09.24, it is necessary to determine the rabies antibody titer from a blood sample before leaving the EU. The test result (0.5 IU/ml or higher) must be entered by a veterinarian into the EU pet passport, and the laboratory report must be attached to the pet passport. In this case, the three-month waiting period is not required, and the animal can safely return to Estonia at any convenient time but no later than the expiration date of the rabies vaccination.

However, if the rabies antibody titer was not determined before leaving the EU and this is done in Russia or Belarus, then the general requirements apply, and the gap between determining the proper antibody titer and returning to the EU must be at least 3 months. If the requirements are not met, the animal must spend three months in quarantine in the country of origin.

List of laboratories

Information in Russian

At our clinic on Maleva 31, you can take blood samples for rabies antibody titers.

For appointment booking and detailed information, call 3377463