You are here:

Updated, easy to access sample and diagnostic test guide

OVs and pet owners are being encouraged to revisit official guidance on GOV.​UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit.

The advice sets out that pet owners intending to travel with their pet from the UK to EU member states would need to visit their vet at least four months in advance of their travel date. This means that those wishing to travel to the EU on 1 November 2019 would need to discuss rabies vaccination and testing requirements with their vet before the end of June.
Detailed information on rabies vaccination and testing is available at: http://apha.defra.gov.uk/external-operations-admin/library/documents/exports/ET178.pdf

Earlier today, CA and SX panel Official Veterinarians were sent this email:

This is an update to the email we sent you on 12 April 2019 in regard to pet travel after the UK leaves the EU.

The Government remains clear that the best approach is to leave the EU with a deal. However, no deal remains the legal default at the end of the extension period on 31 October 2019. As a responsible Government, we must continue to ensure the UK is prepared for all scenarios in order to minimise disruption.

If the UK leaves the EU on 31 October 2019 with no agreement in place, it is likely to become an unlisted third country with regard to the EU Pet Travel Regulations. As we told you in previous correspondence, this will mean that health and documentation rules for pet travel between the UK and the EU will change. We are encouraging Official Veterinarians (OVs) and pet owners to revisit official guidance on GOV.​UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit to know how to meet the requirements in all scenarios.

The advice sets out that pet owners intending to travel with their pet from the UK to EU member states would need to visit their vet at least four months in advance of their travel date. This means that those wishing to travel to the EU on 1 November 2019 would need to discuss requirements with their vet before the end of June.

If the UK is classed by the EU as an unlisted third country for pet travel, vets would have to carry out a blood titre test to prove that pets have a sufficient rabies antibody level to meet EU requirements. Depending on a pets’ history, and the result of the test, the process could take at least four months. Guidance is available on GOV.​UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit, and more specific information on rabies testing is available on the Vet Gateway at: http://apha.defra.gov.uk/external-operations-admin/library/documents/exports/ET178.pdf.

To help pet owners prepare for all scenarios, OVs should be aware of the following:

  1. The changes to the Pet Travel Scheme if the UK becomes an unlisted third country on leaving the EU.
  2. The potential of customer demand increasing in the run-up to 31 October 2019.
  3. The documentary requirements for a pet to travel to and from EU member states after the 31 October.

In a no deal scenario, EU pet passports issued by UK OVs would no longer be valid. Instead, a pet travelling from the UK to the EU would need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). We will contact you again when OVs need to start ordering AHCs instead of EU pet passports for travel after 31 October 2019. An AHC is valid for travel to the EU for up to 10 days after issue and for re-entry to the UK for four months after the date of issue. More guidance is available on the Vet Gateway at:
http://apha.defra.gov.uk/external-operations-admin/library/documents/exports/8233NFG.pdf.

Until the UK leaves the EU, pets can continue to travel to the EU under the current pet travel rules using the current EU pet passport.

We will keep you up to date if there are any changes to our guidance.