BRITISH pet owners now face paying hundreds of pounds for a document required to take their animals into the EU after a key passport ‘loophole’ was closed.
From April 22, British pet owners must obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every visit they make to the EU.
Pet passports issued to UK residents who mainly reside in a non-EU country will no longer be valid, meaning that those who primarily live in Britain will not be able to bring their dogs, cats and ferrets abroad without an AHC.
“If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, from April 22 you cannot use a pet passport (even if it was issued in the EU),” reads a message on the UK government website.
The three dogs of Julie Dawson, a British resident with a property in Spain, have travelled into the EU on their pet passports for years.
READ MORE: The EU’s pet passport comes into effect this month – all you need to know about the new rules for flying to and from Spain with your animal
“The change is a nightmare as now we have to get each dog an AHC every time we travel to Europe – it used to be so simple,” the 52-year-old told The Olive Press.
Since Brexit, an AHC has been required for British owners entering the EU with their pets but many individuals who, like Dawson, regularly visit an EU country managed to acquire a valid passport while abroad.
Speaking on this, Gwen Rees, junior vice-president of the British Veterinary Association said: “Post-Brexit pet travel requirements from Great Britain to the EU have required an Animal Health Certificate issued by a vet, but we’ve heard reports of some UK resident owners travelling with pet passports issued in the EU. These new rules will close that loophole.”
Dawson is one of the owners Rees describes as having used the ‘loophole’.
She had taken her dogs to a vet in Spain ‘three or four years ago’ and was granted the passports after they checked that the dogs were microchipped and recently vaccinated against rabies.
It is estimated that ‘thousands, if not hundred-thousands’ of people in the UK have EU pet passports obtained in the same way.
That is according to Kathryn Bird, who runs Wandering Bird, a company that provides motorhome and travel tips.
Now all of these passports are invalid with owners having to take extra steps to get their pets into Europe.
Each AHC is ‘single-use’ and only valid if granted less than ten days before the day of travel.
“Once you enter the EU with the certificate it is valid for up to six months but a new one is required each time you travel into Europe,” Dawson explained.
The price of this document varies depending on where it is acquired from.
Dawson has been quoted £325 per certificate per pet by their usual vet but has also, after scouring the internet, discovered a company which will provide all three animals with their AHCs for a total of £180.
Having owned a property in Andalucia’s Marbella for eight years, Dawson is frustrated by the change and does ‘not understand’ why it has happened.
She expects that the coming days will be chaos with ‘people not knowing’ and being stuck at ferry ports or the Eurostar tunnel without an AHC.
The Durham local is set to travel to Spain next month with all three of her dogs.
She is now, like many others, searching for an AHC provider that will not break the bank.
Those currently in the EU with their pets who travelled on pet passports are able to return to the UK with these passports but will in future require an AHC.
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