Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
1146. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the new requirements for pet passports for animals travelling between Ireland and Great Britain and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1301/21]
View answerPrior to 1st January, pet dogs, cats and ferrets moving between Ireland and Great Britain required a pet passport issued by an EU Member State or EEA country. The pet also required to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. Pet movement into an EU Member State is governed by the EU Pet Travel Regulation (EU Regulation 576/2013).
In December 2020, the EU listed the UK, as non-EU Member State, among Part 2 countries for the purpose of the Pet Travel Regulation. This does not apply to Northern Ireland, as the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol provides that NI is treated as an EU MS for the purpose of pet travel.
Part 2 listing brings extra requirements: an EU pet passport issued in Great Britain is no longer valid for travel into the EU. Instead, a pet entering Ireland from Great Britain must be accompanied by a pet passport issued in an EU Member State, or Northern Ireland, or an EEA country. If the pet does not have a passport issued by those authorities, it must be accompanied by a health certificate, issued by an Official Veterinarian in GB.
Pet owners are advised to retain any Great Britain-issued EU pet passport, as it may contain important information about vaccinations, treatments, etc. This passport and animal health certificate should accompany the pet during travel from Great Britain to Ireland.
Pet dogs, cats and ferrets coming from Great Britain may only enter Ireland through certain Travellers’ Points of Entry: Dublin Port, Dublin Airport, Rosslare Port, Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy, Shannon Airport and Cork Airport. Dogs travelling from, or returning from, GB to Ireland will require treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm) by a veterinarian 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland. This treatment may be entered into a pet passport issued by an EU MS, NI or the EEA by a UK vet.
The rules for entry into GB with a pet dog, cat or ferret have not changed. EU pet passports remain valid for entry into GB. The pet must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. My Department recommends checking the UK’s official advice on the entry of pets from the EU before travelling to Great Britain.
My Department has issued for the past few years guidance notices directed at both the general public and Private Veterinary Practitioners on the changes Brexit would bring to pet travel between Ireland and the UK.
