Pet Travel Scheme

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 19 July 2021.

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Photo of Andrew Rosindell Andrew Rosindell Co Chair, British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on negotiations with the EU on the EU Pet Travel Scheme.

Photo of Victoria Prentis Victoria Prentis The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The UK has been formally ‘listed’ as a ‘Part 2’ third country for the purposes of the EU pet travel regulations, which means that new rules apply to pet movements from Great Britain to the EU and Northern Ireland (NI). The pet health and documentary requirements for such pet travel are set out under the EU Pet Travel Regulations.

Defra recognises the undue impact that these changes are having on pet owners and assistance dog users and we are seeking agreement from the European Commission on awarding GB Part 1 third country listed status and recognition of GB’s tapeworm-free status, which the EU recognises in both the Republic of Ireland and in NI.

We see no valid animal health reason for these to not be granted and we have one of the most rigorous pet-checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity. We have submitted a detailed technical case setting this out and are continuing to engage with the EU on a workable solution.

We welcome the European Commission’s recent indication of flexibilities in relation to movements from GB to Northern Ireland and we are developing proposals for how to use those flexibilities which we will discuss with the Commission in due course.

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