British Pet Owners: Skip EU Pet Certificate at Your Risk

0:00On March 21st, British pet owners planning trips to the European Union with their dogs, cats or ferrets are getting a strong warning about skipping, the required animal health certificate. Some try to cut costs by getting a pet passport from a vet in an EU country instead, but experts say this workaround breaks the rules and could lead. To big problems at the border. Before Brexit, things were straightforward with a simple pet passport after a microchip, rabies shot and tapeworm treatment for dogs. Since early 2021, though, great Britain residents need an animal health certificate issued by an official vet within 10 days of travel, good for four months inside the EU. You'll find pet owners on social media sharing success stories with these foreign pet passports, especially among motorhome travelers. One doctor even got one for his Jack Russell and Belgium, calling the official system too pricey and complicated. But veterinary leaders in the European Commission make it clear EU pet passports are only for animals whose owners live in the EU.

1:02For British residents, they're invalid for entry from Great Britain and border officials could refuse your pet outright. Cost for legitimate certificates vary from around 70 pounds near ports to over 250 pounds elsewhere due to the extra vet work involved. An inquiry into vet pricing is wrapping up and the UK and EU are talking about bringing back a simpler pet scheme soon, though no data set yet.