Dec 18 - Government Issues No Deal Brexit Advice On Pet Passports
In November, the European Union and the United Kingdom concluded the terms of an agreement for the orderly departure of the UK from the European Union. Gibraltar was part of that agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement includes a transitional phase until the end of 2020 which also covers Gibraltar.
This agreement is subject to ratification by the UK Parliament and by the European Parliament.
In the meantime, planning continues for the eventuality that the UK and Gibraltar leave the European Union without this agreement.
The guidance to the public below covers that eventuality in the area of pet passports.
Taking your pet abroad with a no Brexit deal
Summary :
How taking your pet to the EU would be impacted if the United Kingdom and Gibraltar leave the EU with no deal in March 2019.
Purpose:
This notice sets out how the arrangements that allow pet owners to travel to and from the EU with pets (cats, dogs and ferrets) would change if we leave the EU in March 2019 without a deal. It explains what pet owners would need to do to prepare their pets for travel, and what Official Veterinarians (OVs) would need to do to ensure our pet owners travelling with their pets continue to meet the requirements of the EU pet travel scheme.
Before March 2019:
Under the EU Pet Travel Scheme, owners of dogs, cats and ferrets can travel with their animals to and from EU countries provided they hold a valid EU pet passport. Before a pet can travel from Gibraltar to an EU country for the first time, it must be taken to an Official Veterinarian (OV) at least 21 days before travel. The OV will ensure the animal has a microchip and rabies vaccination, before issuing an EU pet passport, which remains valid for travel for the pet’s lifetime or until all of the treatment spaces are filled.
Dogs returning to Gibraltar from countries that are not free from Echinococcus multilocularis (a type of tapeworm) must have an approved tapeworm treatment administered by a vet between one and five days before entering Gibraltar.
After March 2019 if there’s no deal:
If we leave the EU in March 2019 with no deal, the United Kingdom would become a third country for the purposes of the EU Pet Travel Scheme. Gibraltar is a Part 1 listed third country already.
Pets would continue to be able to travel from Gibraltar to the EU, but the requirements for documents and health checks would differ in that a new passport would be required. A small number of countries including Gibraltar are Part 1 listed, which means they operate under the same EU Pet Travel Scheme rules as EU member states.
As a Part 1 listed country, there should be little change to the current pet travel arrangements, with only minor changes needed to documentation for travel between Gibraltar and the EU and no change for pet owners from what they currently need to do in terms of health preparations.
Further information:
More information on the documents that would be required to enter or re-enter Gibraltar if we leave the EU without a deal will be made available for pet owners and their vets in due course.
Further information and instructions would be shared with OVs authorised to deal with pet travel, pet carriers and the industry.
This notice is meant for guidance only.
You should consider whether you need separate professional advice before making specific preparations.
This is part of the ongoing programme of planning for all possible outcomes.
{fcomment}
