Little change for Gib pet owners in ‘no deal’ scenario, Govt says

The Gibraltar Government said yesterday that there should be little impact on pet owners wishing to travel into the EU after the end of next March in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

Pets – including dogs, cats and ferrets - would continue to be able to travel from Gibraltar to the EU, but the requirements for documents and health checks would differ in that a new passport would be required to replace the one currently in place.

A ‘no deal’ Brexit would mean the United Kingdom would become a third country for the purposes of the EU Pet Travel Scheme currently in place

But a small number of countries including Gibraltar are already “Part 1 listed” third countries, which means they operate under the same EU Pet Travel Scheme rules as EU member states.

“As a Part 1 listed country, there should be little change to the current pet travel arrangements, with only minor changes needed to documentation for travel between Gibraltar and the EU and no change for pet owners from what they currently need to do in terms of health preparations,” the government said.

“More information on the documents that would be required to enter or re-enter Gibraltar if we leave the EU without a deal will be made available for pet owners and their vets in due course.”

The government issued its advice as part of its planning for a ‘no deal’ Brexit, although it noted that Gibraltar would be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement should it be ratified by the UK and European parliaments.

Before March 2019 Under the EU Pet Travel Scheme, owners of dogs, cats and ferrets can travel with their animals to and from EU countries provided they hold a valid EU pet passport.

Before a pet can travel from Gibraltar to an EU country for the first time, it must be taken to an official veterinarian at least 21 days before travel.

The vet will ensure the animal has a microchip and rabies vaccination, before issuing an EU pet passport, which remains valid for travel for the pet’s lifetime or until all of the treatment spaces are filled.

Dogs returning to Gibraltar from countries that are not free from Echinococcus multilocularis - a type of tapeworm - must have an approved tapeworm treatment administered by a vet between one and five days before entering Gibraltar.