By Kim Betts…….
KAR Pet Travel…….

KAR Pet Travel have recently had several enquiries about the possibility of taking pets from TRNC into RoC, either to live or to transit for flights out of Larnaca or Paphos,  and some owners are being advised (not by KAR) that it is possible .

It is not legal nor has it ever been. Ever since we started KAR Pet Travel we have always made it clear that pet movement from TRNC to RoC is prohibited. We recently asked the Government Veterinary Department in the RoC if the situation had changed without us being aware – it has not and they have made the following statement.

Official statement by RoC

” The whole part of the island of Cyprus is part of the European Union (EU) and is being recognized as a single state (not as “south” and “north”) the legitimate government of which is the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. None borders exist in the Cyprus.

However, in the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control, EU legislation is suspended as per Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty of 2003.

According to Article 4(9), of Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004, “The movement across the line (between the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control and those areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control) of live animals and animal products which are subject to Community veterinary requirements shall be prohibited.”

Therefore, the movement of any species of animal arriving from the area occupied by the Turkish military forces of the Republic of Cyprus is strictly prohibited.”

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Please do not be duped into believing that it is OK to take your pets into RoC – anyone who takes animals from the TRNC into RoC, for whatever reason, is putting that pet at risk of euthanasia if caught – it is ILLEGAL.

The same prohibition does not apply for pets travelling into the TRNC via the RoC – however they MUST still comply with the entry rules.