OFFICIALLY, the government is still consulting, but it seems set to relax the world's toughest animal quarantine rules that Britain has maintained for a century to keep the country free of rabies.

It is right to do so - not only because the present laws are often harsh on the owners of imported pets and on the animals themselves but because the scope for easing the strictness now exists without jeopardising the health-safety aim.

The government looks set to favour a scheme involving microchip implants in pets that can be electronically monitored, together with animal "passports" showing that they have been immunised against rabies and other diseases.

It should allow thousands of pets from the EU and rabies-free countries to travel without restriction or risk.

And this measure should also do much to reduce the greater threat stemming from people seeking to avoid the restrictions because of their inflexibility and harshness while, meantime, the barriers remain in place on animal imports from zones where rabies remains.

Overall, the move is a mixture of common sense and compassion - and keeps caution intact where it needs to be.

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