Regional Government and Portos dos Açores establish protocol on Travellers' Points of Entry (TPE) in the Region - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e Alimentação

With a view to complying with EU regulations on the non-commercial movement of pets, the Government of the Azores has established a cooperation agreement between the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Food and Portos dos Açores (Regional Port Authorities). The agreement was signed today in Ponta Delgada by the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, António Ventura, and the President of Portos dos Açores, Sancha Costa Santos.

Recently, there has been an increase in the movement of people and their pets from third countries to the Region. This movement to the Region is not only by air but also by sea, via cruise ships and recreational boats.

The protocol signed today aims to provide a space, on the part of Portos dos Açores, where officials from the Agrarian Development Services can carry out official checks, verifying the health conditions and documentation of animals entering European territory for the first time. This will allow animals travelling with their owners to leave the vessels and accompany their owners as they explore the islands.

In addition to the two Travellers' Points of Entry (TPE) that already existed at the Ponta Delgada and Lajes da Terceira airports, seven new TPE have now been created at the Ponta Delgada and Praia da Vitória cruise terminal as well as at the marinas of Ponta Delgada, Angra do Heroísmo, Velas, Lajes do Pico and Horta.

According to the Regional Secretary for Agriculture and Food, "this initiative aims to ensure efficient control of the entry of pets from third countries arriving at ports and marinas of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, whether on yachts or cruise ships, thereby reinforcing the Region's health safety measures."

"In 2024, 698 checks on pets were carried out at the TPE located at the Ponta Delgada and Lajes airports. We have stepped up control measures to detect the entry of animal diseases in the context of biosecurity, providing greater public health safety for Azoreans and visitors," stressed the government official. 

The implementation of TPE in the marinas of the Azores is a significant step forward in terms of convenience and modernisation of the services provided to visitors and the necessary protection of biosafety and legal requirements. With this measure, the Azores continue to be a benchmark region for those wishing to travel with their pets.