Britain 'has asked to rejoin EU's pet passport scheme' to cut cost of taking animals to the continent

Daily Mail​

16-05-2025

Britain reportedly wants to rejoin the European Union 's pet passport scheme, four years after leaving the arrangement when the Brexit transition period ended.
Some 250,000 UK pet owners were estimated to have taken their cats and dogs on holiday to the EU every year before Britain left the scheme in January 2021.
But taking a British pet to the EU or Northern Ireland is now far more expensive and time-consuming for owners due to post-Brexit rules that also affect assistance dogs.
Owners in the UK can no longer use EU pet passports and instead need to get a vet's certificate confirming a pet's rabies vaccinations are up to date before travelling.
Those travelling to Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway also need to ensure their vet has treated a dog for tapeworm and recorded this in an animal health certificate.
A rabies jab normally costs between £50 and £80, while an animal health certificate is between £100 and £200. Worming treatment can be £15, giving a total of up to £295.
But UK officials want British cats, dogs and ferrets to regain EU freedom of movement as they discuss a new Swiss-style veterinary deal which would cut costs and make it easier to take them to the continent, according to the The Telegraph.
Ahead of Monday's Brexit 'reset' summit in London, a Government source said: 'We have always been clear that that kind of agreement can bring all kinds of benefits.'
A deal on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures is expected to be secured by the Government conceding to the EU's demands on an agreement relating to fish.
This agreement will see the UK align with EU laws on plant and animal health and follow European court rulings on them, opening the door to Britain rejoining the pet passport scheme.
How to take your pet to an EU country
British owners of pet dogs, cats or ferrets must follow a series of rules to take them on holiday to the EU. The rules also apply to assistance dogs.
Rabies vaccination: A pet must be vaccinated against rabies before it can travel, and has to be at least 12 weeks old to get this vaccination. The owner must wait 21 days after the vaccination before travel. If the pet has already been vaccinated, they might need a booster. Owners do not need to wait to travel after a booster vaccination if there has been no break in the vaccine cover.
Microchip: Owners must get a pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If not, they must be vaccinated again.
Pet travel document: Owners should get an animal health certificate from their vet if travelling to the EU. This is valid after the date of issue for ten days for entry into the EU, four months for onward travel within the EU after they enter the EU and four months for re-entry to Great Britain
Tapeworm: A vet must treat a dog for tapeworm and record it in an animal health certificate if the owner is travelling directly to Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway. The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before they arrive.
The EU pet passport is a single document valid for life as long as rabies vaccinations are up to date.
However, current rules mean a vet must provide pet owners with a health certificate no more than ten days before they leave the UK, each time they want to travel to the EU.
Dogs, cats and ferrets must have a rabies vaccination then wait at least three weeks after the first jab before going abroad.
Dogs must also be treated for tapeworm between one and five days before travel to Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway.
In addition, owners cannot take more than five pets to an EU country unless they are attending or training for an event, or exporting for commercial purposes.
Those taking pets to Northern Ireland face the same restrictions because of its Brexit deal that means it follows EU rules to avoid a hard border with the Republic of Ireland.
A new pet passport for owners in Britain travelling to Northern Ireland will come into force on June 4 under the Windsor Framework deal.
This scheme has been described as a free 'simple, lifelong pet travel document'- but this may be dropped if Britain rejoins the EU pet passport scheme.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer has said he is confident of making progress on a deal with the EU ahead of Monday's major summit.
The Government is set to host EU leaders in London next week as part of its 'reset' with the bloc that could see an agreement struck on British access to a €150billion (£126.4 billion) defence fund.
Reports had suggested that disagreements over fishing rights and a possible UK-EU youth mobility scheme have thrown the prospect of a deal into doubt.
But the Prime Minister said during a visit to Albania yesterday: 'I'm confident we will make really good progress into Monday.
'If we do that we will have completed three agreements - India, US and EU - in the course of a two-week window, which is incredibly beneficial for our country.'
While Sir Keir said he would not offer a 'running commentary', he added his refusal to conduct 'megaphone diplomacy' had enabled the Government to make 'good progress' in negotiations with the EU.
However, some critics have dubbed it the 'surrender summit' because it will bring Britain into the closest alignment it has had with the EU since Brexit.