New EU 2026 Health Certificates for Moving Dogs, Cats and Ferrets

Key data

Any company or individual moving dogs, cats, ferrets or other carnivores between EU countries—or importing them from outside—has a new obligation as of 10 April 2026: the health certificate must follow the models updated by the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/848. The previous models, contained in Annexes I and II of Regulation 2021/403, have been replaced. The change is not optional and has no known transition period: the regulation entered into force on the same date as its adoption.

The risk is concrete: presenting a certificate in the old format at a border control may result in the animal being detained or returned. For commercial operations, this means direct costs, delays and potential losses.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/848 modifies two annexes of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403, which is the framework regulation governing health certificates for the movement of animals within the EU:

The new certificate models must be used by official veterinarians and by operators at border controls. The competent authorities of each Member State have the obligation to adapt their certification systems to the new formats.

The regulation applies to both commercial and non-commercial movements. That is, it affects not only companies in the sector: it also affects individuals who travel with their animals crossing borders within the EU or who import them from outside.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact is not a new fee or fixed regulatory cost: it is an operational risk. If the certificate presented does not follow the new model, the animal may be detained or returned at the border. For commercial operations—breeders exporting litters, traders importing animals from third countries, specialized transporters—this can translate into:

• Costs for animal care and accommodation during detention.
• Delays in delivery and possible contractual penalties.
• Need to repeat the certification process with the correct format.
• In imports from third countries, possible return of the animal to the country of origin.

The operational impact falls mainly on the certification chain: the official veterinarian must know and apply the new models, and the operator or owner must verify that the document received complies with the updated format before any international movement.

The competent authorities of each Member State must also update their internal certification systems, which may generate a period of administrative adaptation in some countries.

Who does it affect?

• Breeders who sell or move animals between EU countries or export them to third countries.
• Animal traders who import dogs, cats or ferrets from outside the EU.
• Specialized transporters of live animals between Member States.
• Individuals who travel with their pets (dogs, cats, ferrets or other carnivores) crossing borders within the EU.
• Official veterinarians responsible for issuing health certificates.
• Operators at border controls who verify documentation at inspection posts.
• Competent authorities of Member States, which must adapt their certification systems.

Practical example

A Spanish breeder selling purebred puppies to buyers in Germany and France needs each animal to be accompanied by the corresponding health certificate for movement between Member States (Annex I of Regulation 2021/403, in its version updated by Regulation 2026/848).

If the official veterinarian certifying the animals has not updated their templates and issues the certificate using the old model, the transporter may find that the document is rejected at a border control. The result: the animal is detained, the breeder incurs accommodation costs and the buyer does not receive the animal within the agreed timeframe.

The solution is simple but requires prior action: confirm with the official veterinarian, before any shipment, that they are using the models in force as of 10 April 2026.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify with your official veterinarian that they are using the updated models of Regulation 2026/848 for any health certificate issued as of 10 April 2026.
2. Review certificates in progress: if you have planned movement or import operations, check that the documentation already prepared follows the new format before initiating the movement.
3. Inform your logistics and transport team about the change in models, so they can detect outdated documentation before reaching a border control.
4. Contact the competent authorities of your Member State if you have doubts about the availability of the new models or the timelines for adapting local certification systems.
5. For imports from third countries: confirm that the supplier or exporter in the country of origin also knows the new model of Annex II, as the certificate must comply with the EU format from the origin.

Official source