Every year around 100,000 owners use the pet passport scheme to take their animal on holiday as well as on work trips. According to recent pet travel regulations, January onwards pets will no longer require a blood test for their travel within the European Union and they will have to wait for only 21 days before they get permission to make their journey, provided they have received a rabies vaccination. These regulations are also applicable to non-risk countries, including Australia and the United States.

While explaining the current pet quarantine rules in the UK, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Caroline Spelman, said that the policies are outlined to fight against rabies. "These outdated rules need to be changed as they have caused hardship to generations of pets and pet owners and those who rely on assistance dogs, with too many animals cooped up unnecessarily", Spelman said.

Additionally on Thursday, she is expected to make an announcement that Britain will relax the rules as an attempt to bring the country into line with more liberal regulations across the European Union where animals will be directed to have vaccination 21 days before coming back into the country, thus escaping the blood test requirement.

Sources have reported that a majority of vets charge approximately £100 for the pet blood test, therefore, the new regulations can play a big role in saving a good amount of money for the pet owners.