21 Jul Where Do You Need an Animal Health Certificate?

Where Do You Need an Animal Health Certificate?

Many pet owners like taking holidays overseas. Some people even own a second house abroad. Due to the “pet passport” program, these pet owners may simply travel with their animals to their desired location.

The pet program made it easy for pet owners to travel with their animals throughout the European Union with little red tape and without having to adhere to onerous quarantine regulations.

However, the advent of Brexit forced Britons to adjust to a lot of changes.

Before Brexit, what were the regulations of the UK’s pet passport program?

Up to January 1, 2021, the UK was a member of the EU. The EU Pet Travel Scheme at the time permitted pet owners to travel to and from any EU country with their animals if they possessed a current EU passport for their animals that verified their microchipping and up-to-date vaccination records.

How did things change after Brexit?

Old pet passports lost their validity in the EU on January 1st, 2021. Since we left the EU, the UK’s Pet Travel Scheme has not been added to the list of “Part One listed” programs, which means that pets with UK-issued passports are not allowed to enter any EU countries.

Right present, Part Two is displayed as a status. Although quarantine requirements are still not required, there are many criteria that must be followed if we wish to transport our pet overseas.

According to the new regulations, if you’re bringing a pet from the UK to the EU or Northern Ireland, you must also carry an Animal Health Certificate.

What is an Animal Health Certificate?

An Animal Health Certificate is a record that attests to your pet’s microchip and rabies vaccination. The documentation includes a lot of information, including the breed, size, and age of your pet, facts about its microchip, up-to-date records of vaccinations, and information regarding tapeworm treatment if your pet has ever had a tapeworm issue.

Additionally, bear in mind that your pet has to have a vaccination at least 21 days before to your departure. As a result, you should begin the procedure early rather than rushing at the last minute.

Additionally, keep in mind that the Animal Health Certificate needs to be written in the language of the country to which you are traveling.

How to obtain an Animal Health Certificate?

A vet must provide you an Animal Health Certificate at least 10 days before your trip to the EU. This implies that if you wish to follow the rules, you must carefully organize the appointment with the vet. What if the veterinarian in your area doesn’t offer Animal Health Certificates? Then, in order to obtain the certificate as soon as possible, you should speak with another veterinarian and request references.

How long is the certificate valid?

You may use the Animal Health Certificate once for repeat trips to the UK, once for a single journey to the EU, and once for further travel within the EU within its four-month validity.

What is the price?

The Royal Veterinary College estimates that a brand-new Animal Health Certificate costs around £110. Additionally, each time you travel, a new certificate is required. Compared to the previous pet passport, which cost just about £60, the price is significantly more.

You should also take into account the cost of any vaccines and other treatments your pet might require before to departure, in addition to the £110. You must pay an additional £15 to £20 for the microchip and an additional £50 to £60 for the rabies shot in addition to the price of the treatment and certificate.

If you are unsure about the restrictions, it is advisable to see the veterinarian before leaving. You would have ample time to organize everything, schedule all essential visits, and receive the certificate and finish the immunization procedure.

To find out the most recent guidelines for taking your pet abroad, you may also visit the government website.

Will things get better or worse?

The UK must adhere to the conditions outlined in the “Part One listed” status, according to the government. Additionally, it is exerting pressure on the European Commission to adopt its new Pet Travel Scheme. As a result, the situation doesn’t appear promising right now, and you must abide by the new regulations.

What about pets entering the UK?

There are new regulations for pets going from the UK, however, there are no changes for pets coming into the UK from an EU nation. Since the EU nations are “Part One listed” in accordance with the Pet Travel Scheme, the pet passport need still applies.

What about nations outside the EU?

What if you wish to depart from the UK and travel to a non-EU nation? In such a situation, you’ll need an export health certificate for your pet proving that it complies with the destination country’s health standards. A certified veterinarian must also sign this certificate.

If you wish to transport your pet to a non-EU nation, it is preferable to review the government regulations well in advance and consult your veterinarian.

This is where pet insurance is useful

When traveling overseas, unforeseen vet expenditures are frequently covered by pet insurance policies, providing you have all the most recent paperwork. It’s best to check with the insurance provider before leaving, though.

If the insurance provider doesn’t cover vet expenses overseas, inquire about policies or plans that, for an additional cost, can provide coverage for unforeseen expenses.

Typically, immunizations, microchipping, or expenses related to getting an Animal Health Certificate are not covered by pet insurance policies.

A few plans include clauses that will pay for the installation of a new microchip if the first one fails or reimburse you for the expense of replacing an Animal Health Certificate if you misplace it.

Before going abroad, you should always inquire with your insurance provider about the coverage offered by your pet’s insurance policy.