With the UK due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, many of our clients are asking what the effect of Brexit will be on pet travel between the UK and the EU. Specifically, they’re asking whether the Pet Passport Scheme (PETS) that covers dogs, cats and ferrets will still apply.
Pets will still be able to travel
Defra (the UK government’s Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) has stated that pets and their owners will still be able to travel between the UK and the EU post Brexit.
- For pets travelling from the EU to the UK, there will be no change to PETS requirements.
- For pets travelling from the UK to the EU, there may be some changes, depending on the terms on which the UK leaves the EU.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal
Changes to requirements for pet travel from the UK to the EU will be minor if the UK leaves with a deal and becomes what’s called a ‘listed country’.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, the EU will probably treat it as an ‘unlisted country’, in which case pets travelling to EU countries will almost certainly have to meet additional requirements. These will include:
- A rabies vaccination
- Followed by a blood test at least 30 days afterwards
- Then a wait of three months (assuming a successful blood test result) before the pet can travel
What does this mean for pet owners with travel plans?
If you’re planning to travel from the UK to an EU country with a dog, cat or ferret after 29 March 2019, Defra recommends you contact your vet at least four months ahead of your travel date to see what the requirements may be.
So if, for example, you have a trip planned for 30 March 2019, you need to contact your vet before 30 November 2018.
For more information
We’ve published summary information on our website. For the latest information and updates, please make sure you check the Defra website.
I hope for the best for us and for our pets… who knows how long the whole EU thing will exist, it seems a lot of countries are not happy with the things there…
Everything is a bit of a mess at the moment ð
Thanks for keeping us informed.
It’s a shame we can’t be more definite in our advice.
If they require extra paperwork after Brexit and your dog eats the paperwork? That excuse never worked for me on my homework when I was a kid. From the perspective of the popular press, Britain is listing every-which-way on Brexit. Let’s hope for PETS’ sake Britain can be listed.
We have enough trouble with paperwork without dogs eating it! Heaven knows how it will end up but one of the chief EU negotiators has a dog and is keen for the current situation to continue…
Good information.
Thanks. It’s a bit of a mare not knowing anything firm at this late stage…
Wishing you the best of luck!
Thanks! Think we all need some luck with this madness.
I was wondering about the effects on you and your business. The way things have been handled is a disgrace from the point of view of the people who will be most affected.
It has been a disgrace. And there are so many new disasters cropping up daily.
Well, this is most informative, and I’m sure any questions will be answered this weekend by our all-knowing president visiting France, assuming he knows what Brexit and the EU are.
I never trust a person who doesn’t love a dog…only president I’ve ever known about in the White House that didn’t have a dog…makes sense to me.
At least we’ve finally elected a House of Representatives to try to exert restraints on his blatant corruption.
Whoops! Excuse me for straying into politics in your perfectly wonderful post.
We’ve thought the same about tRump and animals â the eagle said it all so well. We do hope he put the world to right this past weekend but suspect he’s just opened more wounds ð
may your compassionate
efforts continue receiving
needed love & support ð
Thank you so much. We all hope for an end to this Brexit madness…
Great post!
Thanks!
Wow Annie this could put a crimp in things…I can’t imagine having to do all that 4 months b4 hand. I hope UK leaves EU with a sweet deal so it can be business ‘purr’ usual…a girl can hope right???
All the best!
((hugs)) Sherri-Ellen & **purrsss** BellaDharma
It’s certainly fingers crossed that we’ll end up without the booby prize of a ‘no deal’ exit but everyone has to be warned and plan for the worst.
I agree it is best you wrote about all possibilities…I hope things transition smoothly for AC & everyone!!! The world is changing far too fast ð
Why will they need rabies shots if they donât now? Is there a big problem with rabies in the UK or Europe I hadnât heard anything? Good luck with all this.
They do need rabies shots now, it’s just the antibody test that would cause the 3 month delay. Turning the clocks back to before the EU pet passports were introduced. The UK is rabies free but there are some EU countries that do have problems.
Could you please advise, how you as a UK DEFRA authorised transporter will be able to operate beyond Dover post Brexit (29th March 2019) given the EC long ago made clear your license will no longer be recognised in France or any of the other EU countries?
Thanks for your interesting question Paula. We have to wait to see if we get a Deal with the EU as it may not be an issue.
We are aware of the possibilities and options.
Meanwhile we do have a plan B but are not ready to share it yet. Only to say we will be operating as a Haulier and approved for EU travel. We are taking advice from DEFRA and looking at their suggestions.
Itâs a waiting time.
There are going to similar issues for companies operating from the EU wishing to bring pets to the UK as their route will end at Calais.
They will need to be DEFRA Registered Type 2 Hauliers with residency in the UK and hold FTA Approvals from their local agency to cross the channel!
We watched vans being turned away from Eurotunnel yesterday who held DEFRA Type 2 licenses but their vans were not compliant. So itâs already happening.