The Government plans to reduce the quarantine time for imported cats and dogs at risk of carrying rabies.
It is to be reduced to 10 days at the New Zealand border.
Quarantine times vary according to the country of origin, but for those with a higher risk profile such as South Africa, the waiting time has been four months.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry says these types of measures are no longer needed as cats and dogs are vaccinated and have a test to prove the vaccine worked before the pet arrives in New Zealand.
The new standards are scheduled to come into effect in May.
