New NI pet travel requirements “bureaucratic and burdensome”, says BASC

BASC has raised concerns in the Northern Ireland Assembly about the costs involved and ‘significant ambiguity” of new post-Brexit rules on pet travel.

Under the new rules, dogs travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain will require a valid pet passport and vaccinations which could potentially have an initial cost of £120 per dog.

BASC NI director Tommy Mayne raised concerns about EU Pet Travel Regulation (EU) 576/2013 to the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

He said: “BASC wrote to the committee to highlight the bureaucratic and burdensome requirements of the regulation which has now become law as a result of Brexit. BASC shares the frustration of our members who are understandably unhappy at the new requirements which could potentially initially cost £120 per dog to comply with.

“BASC has raised concerns regarding the costs involved and the fact that there is significant ambiguity around the new requirements.”

Mr Mayne said it was clear from the discussions that took place during the live-streamed meeting that the department viewed the requirements as being “onerous and unnecessary”.

He added: “In responding to the questions from committee members, the department’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) advised the committee that the DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA has written to the Secretary of State George Eustice MP in London and to the EU to express his concerns. The CVO also advised the committee that this was EU legislation and as such, while discussions were ongoing, there would be no ‘quick fix’.

“Thanks to the committee for taking on board the concerns of our members and for their positive responses to our correspondence.”

The new rules for traveling with pets between Northern Ireland and Great Britain can be read here.