UK pet owners will be forced to make plans four months in advance, and prepare checks and important pet certificates in every travel to the EU during the event of the no-deal Brexit.
Government Warns
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As early as now, government officials have warned an issuance advice on pet owners to start preparations by November if they are planning to travel to any EU countries by the end of March.
The pet passport scheme from before would be replaced by sterner rules. Although pet animals are still permitted to travel to and from the European Union (EU), chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss advised pet parents with travel plans after 29th of March 2019 to ‘consult with their vet as soon as they can.’ The Environment Department has added a reassurance to animal lovers that there would be no issuance of ‘no return’ from the quarantine restrictions eighteen years ago.
Travel Costs
Pet owners travelling to EU will need to pay for rabies vaccinations in every travel going to EU, which will most likely cost around £60 for health certificates alone. The British Veterinary Association (BVA) added an additional estimation of about £150 in preparation for the animal travel. The said amount will be allocated for the required health certificates, treatments, vaccinations, and microchipping. In addition to the higher budget allocation, there would be longer waiting periods for pets to be cleared for travel. Although rabies vaccinations last three years, owners will be required to pay for a new health certificate each time they travel to the EU in the event of no-deal Brexit.
Pet Travel Rules
As soon as the no-deal Brexit will take effect, these rules will be active. One needs to ensure that his/her pet have microchips and updated vaccinations before it can be allowed to travel outside EU or vice versa.
Your pet can travel by following these steps:
- Get microchips for your dog, cat, ferret, or any other pet. Ensure that all vaccinations are kept up-to-date. Your furry pet must be taken a blood sampling after at least thirty days of being vaccinated against rabies.
- Your vet is responsible for sending the blood taken to a blood-testing laboratory approved by EU.
- The blood test result should have at least a rabies antibody level of 0.5 IU/ml as a validation that the vaccination was successful.
- You must wait until three months from the day the blood result was validated and approved.
- You and your pet must pay a visit to an official veterinarian within ten days before the departing date. The health certificate should hold information on your pet’s health records including vaccination history, anti-rabies and the blood test result; this will be given upon the visit.
Upon the return travel to the UK, the pet owner should have the following required documents:
- EU pet passport (both for EU and UK citizens)
- EU health certificate that was issued in the UK and used to travel going to the EU
- UK certificate of pet health
Visit www.gov.uk for an in-depth information.
Email from Eurotunnel
This is an email copy from Eurotunnel as an informational advice on the matter:
Dear Customer,
Important Pet Travel Scheme Update
As a customer who has previously travelled on Eurotunnel with your pet, we wanted to make you aware of DEFRA’s update on the Pet Travel Scheme if there is a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.
DEFRA have today announced their recommendation that pet owners planning to travel immediately after 29th March 2019 contact their vet at least four months in advance of travel to check what they need to do.
For example, if you are travelling on 30th March 2019, the recommendation is that you visit your vet as soon as possible, and before the end of November 2018 at the latest.
DEFRA have advised that you will still be able to travel with your pet to Europe after Britain leaves the EU; however, you may need to take some additional steps to allow your pet/s to travel in a ‘no-deal’ scenario.
Stay up to date with the latest advice by visiting www.gov.uk and searching “pet travel.” Updates will also be available at eurotunnel.com.
Yours sincerely,
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