Pet
owners are
being
encouraged to check the latest government
advice about travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
or the European Union with their pets at the end of the
transition period.
The government has worked alongside the European Commission to
ensure pet travel can continue between Great Britain and the EU
and Northern Ireland at the end of the transition
period.
From 1 January 2021 onwards, the UK will have
Part 2 listed status under the EU Pet Travel Scheme, meaning that
people travelling from GB with their pets and assistance dogs
will need to follow new requirements in order to travel to the EU
and Northern Ireland.
Before taking their dog, cat or ferret to the EU for the first
time after 1 January 2021, pet owners must complete the following
steps. The only new requirement for travel to the EU is the use
of a certificate, rather than a pet passport:
- Ensure their dog, cat or ferret is microchipped.
- Ensure that their dog, cat or ferret is vaccinated against
rabies – pets must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be
vaccinated.
- Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel
- Dogs must be treated against tapeworm 24-120 hours before
landing, if they are travelling to a tapeworm free country.
- Visit their vet to get an animal health certificate (AHC) for
their pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU.
Pets and assistance dogs will also need to
enter the EU through a travellers’ point of entry (TPE),
which includes all the major French ports such as Calais, Caen
and Dunkirk.
All of these requirements will also apply for
movements of pets and assistance dogs from Great Britain to
Northern Ireland. However recognising that these changes will
take time to adjust to, the UK Government is working with the
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
on an enforcement approach that takes this challenge into
account. This approach will be implemented in a way which
supports pet owners and assistance dog users while the Government
pursues a permanent solution.
There will be no change to the current health
preparations or documents for pets entering Great Britain from
the EU or Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.
Christine Middlemiss, UK Chief
Veterinary Officer, said
“We have been granted ‘Part 2’ listed third
country status by the EU which will ensure that travelling with
your pet continues from 1 January onwards.
“Your vet will be able to advise what you need
to do in order to obtain the correct documentation to travel and
you can find the latest pet travel advice on gov.uk or by
searching ‘pet travel’.”
Updated guidance on pet travel has been
available since November 2018, ensuring that owners will be ready
for any future scenario, so many pet owners will already be
familiar with that they need to do.
The UK government is continuing to press the
European Commission to secure Part 1 listed status. The UK has
one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe and
currently meets all the requirements for Part 1 listed status
under the EU Pet Travel Scheme.
The latest advice for pet owners seeking to
travel to the EU after 1 January 2021 can be found here.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- For media enquiries please email newsdesk@defra.gov.uk.
- Passengers should always check the rules of the country they
are travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements
before they travel.
- For information on commercial imports and exports of dogs,
cats and ferrets to the EU – please refer to the Border Operating Model.
- There will be no changes or new requirements on movements
from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
- There will be no changes to the current health preparations
or documents for pets entering Great Britain from the EU in the
immediate term, as the disease risks remains unchanged.
- There are no restrictions on bringing pet rodents, rabbits,
birds, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles to the UK from EU
countries.
