European countries will be able to avoid quarantine in the UK.

And Bermuda is working to have the same privileges extended to travellers from Bermuda.

The UK has strict quarantine regulations in an attempt to prevent any animals infected with rabies from entering the country and spreading the disease.

It will introduce the 12-month trial programme in April next year and is hoping to commence the full scheme from April 2001.

A UK Ministry of Agriculture spokesman said yesterday that it was anticipated that the scheme would be extended to other rabies-free countries, particularly Australia and New Zealand, some time in the future.

Pets must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies to get a passport.

The microchips, which carry a number, are inserted just under the skin of the animal, usually between its shoulder blades. A scanner can then be used to detect the number on the chip and positively identify the animal.

Once the owner has presented documents which show that that animal has been successfully vaccinated against rabies and treated for ticks and lice, a passport for the pet will be issued.

Pet owners wishing to bring their animal into the country will be able to enter Britian through Heathrow Airport and certain English ports.

Airlines, ferry companies and other carriers will be responsible for checking the pet passports.

In recent years the UK government has been under increasing pressure to ease its quarantine laws which state that all animals entering the UK must endure six months of quarantine in an approved facility.

The cost of this, which can be as much as $3,200, together with the obvious detriment to the animal and its owner has lead to a number of groups lobbying the government to change its position.

Former Governor Lord Waddington's dog, a 12-year-old terrier named Basil, died shortly after being quarantined when the Governor and his family returned to the UK.

Local vets are currently microchipping animals at a cost of $15 to $25 to help identify them should they be lost or stolen.

Anna Dawson, of Endsmeet Animal Hospital, told The Royal Gazette : "It is a kind of permanent identification for the dog which is better than tattooing.'' She explained that as a dog ages tattoos may become difficult to read.

The Department of Agriculture & Fisheries supply the vets with forms which show the number on a microchip implanted in a dog. The number and owner's name is then recorded in the Department's data base.

And this system is already being used by people travelling with their pets to other countries. Facilities are therefore already in place should the UK government extend the pet passport programme to Bermuda.