New Post-Brexit Pet Travel Scheme: Key Changes and Reactions

U.K: A streamlined pet travel scheme between Great Britain and Northern Ireland has launched, aiming to make journeys with pets far simpler for many owners. 

Previously, pet owners faced strict requirements, including rabies vaccinations and a new travel certificate for each trip, due to Northern Ireland remaining within the EU's animal health zone while Great Britain exited after Brexit.

Now, the new Pet Travel Document (PTD) replaces the old system. The PTD is free, valid for the pet’s lifetime, and eliminates the need for rabies vaccination or repeated vet visits. To qualify, pets must be microchipped, and owners must declare that the animal will not be taken into the Republic of Ireland or onward to the EU. 

This scheme applies only to residents of Great Britain traveling to Northern Ireland with dogs, cats, or ferrets; other animals have separate arrangements. Northern Ireland residents returning from Great Britain do not need the PTD, but their pets must still be microchipped.

A spokesperson for the UK's Department of Environment said pet owners and assistance dog users who are travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland "can now apply for a free pet travel document that's quick and easy to get online, and will last the pet's lifetime".

"This is in stark contrast to the old system, which required pet owners to obtain expensive health treatments and cumbersome journey certificates from a vet every time they travelled," they added.

The PTD is part of the Windsor Framework, which amended the original Northern Ireland Protocol to address post-Brexit challenges.

Criticism and Support

Not everyone is convinced the new rules are a major improvement. Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MP Jim Allister argued that "The original propositions of the protocol were never implemented. The grace periods remain the current position, which is that no pet passports, no documentation, and no requirement to be part of a pet scheme is needed to bring your pet from Great Britain to the other part of the United Kingdom. What these regulations do is impose a pet passport scheme."

Meanwhile, organizations like Guide Dogs NI and the Search and Rescue Dog Association Ireland North (SARDA IN) have welcomed the clarity and simplicity the new scheme brings. Guide Dogs NI advises travellers to apply in advance, as issuing the PTD can take up to five working days.

In summary, the PTD makes pet travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland easier, cheaper, and less bureaucratic. The scheme is only for non-commercial pet movements and does not apply to onward travel to Ireland or the EU. Critics argue the changes formalize documentation that was not always previously enforced, while supporters highlight the reduced hassle and improved clarity for pet owners travelling across borders. 

The UK and EU continue to discuss broader agrifood arrangements, but the PTD requirement will remain for the foreseeable future.