If you're planning on bringing your furry friends along, your next trip to China might only require them to be away in quarantine for only an hour after arrival. However, this is only applicable to animals that are considered "low risk."
Under the current rules and regulations implemented by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, cats and dogs that arrived from overseas have to spend seven to thirty days at an inspection facility.
During the mandatory quarantine period, animals have to undergo extensive tests for rabies and other diseases that could cause an epidemic.
But the rule is now being considered for revision. The government agency said that in the future, animals deemed 'low risk' could be released to their owners immediately after passing a simple test at the port of entry.
The consideration for the revision of the mandatory quarantine period just comes in time as China sees an increased number of pets coming from overseas.
China saw around 8,000 cats and dogs being brought in from the period of January to November, about half arriving at the Beijing and Shanghai airports.
"During peak seasons, such as summer holidays, we can receive seven or eight dogs or cats a day," said Zhang Ao, a staff at the quarantine inspection office at Beijing Capital International Airport.
Aside from the peak seasons, the surge in the number of pets arriving from abroad is also due to more people being posted to countries like China, where business is continually booming.
The transport of pets is not only tedious, but it is also an expensive one. Air travel of pets could cost as much as or even more than a person's air fare.
With this possible rule change with the mandatory quarantine for pets, at least that's one less thing to worry about at the airport.