FROM next January, dogs and cats imported from 10 areas with low rabies rates will no longer need quarantine.

These are: Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States' territories of Guam and Hawaii.

Currently, only pets from rabies-free countries Australia, Britain, Ireland and New Zealand do not need to be housed for at least 30 days in the Agri-food & Veterinary Authority's (AVA) Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station.

From next year, those from the rest of the United States will also have their quarantine period shortened to 10 days.

But they need to have lived in the low-risk areas for at least six months, be vaccinated against rabies and shown to have antibodies in their blood before being sent here - all new requirements.

Announcing the changes at an AVA roadshow on responsible pet ownership yesterday, Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of National Development, said: "With these risk-management measures in place, let me assure you that this waiver will not compromise Singapore's rabies-free status."

Singapore has been rabies-free since 1953. Spread via the saliva of infected animals, the viral disease kills all that it infects, unless they were vaccinated.

From January next year, the AVA will require operators of pet retail shops to attend a compulsory course on pet care and management at Temasek Polytechnic. This is meant to enhance the standards of pet shops here, Dr Maliki said.

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