If during customs examination customs officers find out that the accompanying pet animal does not meet the requirements (chip, vaccination, passport or a health certificate or in certain cases the test on the effciveness of vaccination), an authorised veterinarian may decide on the follwing:

a)      to return the animal to its country of origin,

b)      to isolate the animal under official control for the time necessary for it to meet the health requirements, at the expense of the owner or the natural person responsible for it; or

c)      if the above fails, to put the animal down, without financial compensation, where its return or isolation in quarantine cannot be envisaged.

Animals which are refused authorisation to enter into the Polish territory are housed under customs supervision.

If there are more than five pet animals, if they are destined for commercial purposes or if they travel without their owner, they must undergo veterinary examination on general conditions. In such cases they can enter into the Polish territory via one of the points of entry where there is a veterinary border inspection post.

Other domestic animals (reptiles, amphibians and rodents) do not have to meet the requirements concerning rabies, but they must have a health certificate and - in Poland - an import permission issued by the Chief Veterinary Officer.

Detailed information on the conditions that must be met by live animals imported by travellers (dogs, cats, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, birds, invertebrates) can be obtained from the internet website of the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate at: http://www/wetgiw.gov.pl and

http://www.wetgiw.gov.pl/files/3045_Requirements_for_import_of_dogs_cats_and_ferrets.pdf