Pet owners reminded to seek advice on travel plans ahead of 1 January 2021
Government reminds pet owners to check the latest advice on travelling with pets ahead of the formal end to the EU exit transition period.
Check latest pet travel advice ahead of 1 January 2021
Pet owners are being encouraged to check the latest government advice about travelling from Great Britain to the European Union with their pets at the end of the EU exit transition period.
During the transition period, pet owners have been able to continue to travel with their pets using a Pet Passport. The UK government is working with the European Commission to ensure a similar arrangement for pet travel between Great Britain and the EU from 1 January 2021.
However, if an agreement is not reached there could be new requirements in place for those travelling with a pet from Great Britain to the EU from 1 January 2021.
If pet owners are planning to travel from January 2021 onwards then they should contact their vet at least four months in advance of their travel date to discuss the latest requirements, including the documentation and vaccinations needed. For example, those wishing to travel with their pet from Great Britain to the EU on 1 January 2021 should discuss the relevant documentation their vet by 1 September at the latest.
Christine Middlemiss, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, said:
Those pet owners who wish to be certain of being able to take their pets abroad from 1 January 2021 onwards should consult their vet at least four months before travelling. Your vet will be able to advise what you need to do in order to obtain the correct documentation to travel.
We continue to be in contact with vets to highlight this issue and they are expecting pet owners to consult with them and plan ahead. Pet owners can also stay up to date with the latest advice on gov.uk or by searching ‘pet travel’.
Updated guidance on pet travel has been available since November 2018, so many pet owners will already be familiar with that they need to do and some may have already taken action. There will be no change to the current health preparations for pets entering Great Britain from the EU from 1 January 2021.
The latest advice for pet owners seeking to travel to the EU after 1 January 2021 can be found here.