It could soon be much cheaper for holidaymakers to take their pet dogs, cats and ferrets away with them.
New proposed rules could make the process more affordable and easier as Animal Health Certificates may be scrapped under a new UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement.
Previously, Britons used pet passports which they applied for once after their beloved animal was microchipped and received the necessary vaccinations.
The handy document could be used time and time again.
However, Brexit saw the introduction of Animal Health Certificates which brought along more caveats and expenses.
The document, which costs between £100 and £300 according to the BBC, has to be issued within ten days of the intended travel date.
Holidaymakers wanting to take their dog, cat or ferret on holiday in the EU may soon be facing a simpler and less expensive process
Once you have entered the EU, it is then valid for six months of onward travel within the EU, and six months for re-entry to Great Britain.
Owners also have to get a new one for every trip.
‘When you get the certificate, your vet will also give you a declaration to sign. This confirms that you will not sell or re-home the pet while you’re abroad,’ the current government guidance says.
‘If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU – even if it was issued in the EU.
‘If you use a pet passport instead of an animal health certificate, your pet may be refused entry.’
Owners must also get their dogs treated for tapeworm and ensure it is recorded on their pet travel document if they are going to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway.
When heading back to the UK, ‘you’ll also need to arrange a tapeworm treatment for your return journey to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) from most countries’.
But proposals mean the health certificates could be ditched and instead, pet passports brought back.
The government is proposing scrapping Animal Health Certificates, which can cost between £100 and £300
The old document cost between £60 and £100, The Times reports, and was available to get from a vet.
It required the animal to be vaccinated against rabies and microchipped.
The draft legislation is set to be presented to EU ambassadors today (November 4) before being ratified on November 20 at the EU-UK summit.
If everything goes ahead, it could be implemented in early 2028.
Sources told the publication the agreement was ‘good as done’ and there would be ‘no further negotiation’.
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