Pet passport return would ease EU travel for gundog owners

Gundog owners who take their dogs to compete in field trials and working tests across Europe could face less cost and paperwork under plans to bring back multi-use pet passports. The Royal Kennel Club has welcomed a Government commitment to conclude negotiations with the EU on the passports, which it said is being pursued ahead of the next UK-EU summit on 22 July.

What would change for travelling with dogs?

At present, owners in Great Britain must obtain an Animal Health Certificate for every trip to the EU. The vet-issued document is valid for a single journey and is both costly and time-consuming to arrange.

A multi-use pet passport would replace that per-trip certificate with a reusable document, cutting both the cost and the administration. The move follows the UK-EU agreement to work towards a common sanitary and phytosanitary area, which includes making pet travel easier.

England retriever team member Jason Mayhew agreed, saying the current rules left handlers feeling straitjacketed. He told ST: “The ability to up sticks and go is almost impossible. Making it easier for dogs to travel under one umbrella system makes sense. Since the collapse of the pet passport, we now no longer travel to the continent.”

Why does it matter for the shooting community?

Gundogs are at the heart of game and rough shooting, and a growing number of handlers travel to mainland Europe to compete in field trials and working tests. Under the current rules, every trip means another vet visit and another bill for an Animal Health Certificate.

Owners who work or trial their dogs abroad would benefit alongside the wider dog-owning public if a reusable passport returns.

What has the Royal Kennel Club said?

Dr Ed Hayes, Head of Public Affairs at the Royal Kennel Club, said the current system was a burden on those who travel regularly with their dogs.

“The return of pet passports would make travelling with dogs easier, more affordable and less bureaucratic, while maintaining the high standards of animal health and welfare that are essential for safe international travel,” he said. “It would also be a significant benefit to members of the dog showing and canine activities community who regularly travel to compete at events across Europe with their dogs.”

What happens next?

Negotiations are expected to continue ahead of the UK-EU summit that the Royal Kennel Club said is scheduled for 22 July. No date has been set for pet passports to return.

Until any new arrangement is in place, owners travelling to the EU with a dog should continue to obtain an Animal Health Certificate for each trip. The latest requirements are set out on the GOV.UK pet travel pages.