From today British pet owners can no longer use an EU pet passport to take their dog, cat or ferret into Europe. The rules changed on April 22 and anyone who turns up at an EU border with the old passport-style document risks having their animal refused entry. The change affects everyone based in England, Scotland and Wales regardless of whether their pet passport was originally issued by an EU country or not.
The new requirement is an Animal Health Certificate. This is a document that a registered vet must issue within ten days of the planned departure date. It cannot be prepared weeks in advance and stored for later use. A fresh certificate is needed for every single trip to the EU without exception. Pet owners who holiday in Europe regularly will need to factor this into their planning each time they book travel.
