Thank you for contacting me about the commercial importation of animals from Eastern Europe.
I am aware that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is concerned about the commercial movement of animals between or from Ukraine and neighbouring countries and the health risk that presents. The UK has been rabies free for 100 years and the movement of large numbers of rescue animals entering Great Britain from high-risk rabies countries, without the correct health preparations, presents serious risks to biosecurity and public health. There has also been a number of serious instances of non-compliant imports, including those under falsified paperwork.
Due to these concerns, and to ensure that the UK can prioritise those fleeing Ukraine with their own pets, Defra has temporarily suspended all commercial imports of dogs, cats and ferrets originating in or dispatched from Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Romania until at least 3 September 2022. It is my understanding that this does not apply to pets, as these are considered “non-commercial”. While I appreciate your concerns about the specific case you have mentioned, I know that Ministers consider these special measures to be absolutely necessary in order to contain the risk to human and animal health.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
