Although the UK Withdrawal Agreement will take effect at the end of January, uncertainties remain regarding some key issues, including the transport of pets during the transitional period and beyond.
If UK and EU veterinary health provisions were to diverge, this could affect the procedures for obtaining authorisation to transport pets and increase the time involved, thus hampering the movement of people and their pets between the UK and the EU.
I would therefore like to know if the Commission has taken the necessary steps, in consultation with the United Kingdom, to guarantee consistency between UK and EU veterinary health rules and procedures for authorising the transport of pets once the United Kingdom is no longer officially part of the European Union.
Can the Commission give details of the measures taken?
A: Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission
The agreement regulating the withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the Union entered into force on 1 February 2020. During the transition period, until 31 December 2020, the animal health conditions for the non-commercial movement of pets between Member States, in force since 2013[1], continue to apply to such movements between the EU Member States and the UK.
Without prejudice to any possible agreement, the non-commercial movement of pets from the UK into a Member State will remain possible after the transition period, albeit subject to additional efforts in terms of certification, testing, waiting periods and border controls.
Aware of the issue related to the non-commercial movement of pets, the Commission informed travellers at an early stage of the negotiations under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union[2].
[1] Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals and repealing Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 (OJ L 178, 28.6.2013, p. 1).
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