UK vets defend pet health certificate cost for travel to France
Animal Health Certificate fees justified says UK vet body
Owners must get an Animal Health Certificate from a UK vet for crossings to France
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The UK’s main vets’ body, the BVA, has declined to criticise Animal Health Certificate (AHC) fees that in some cases exceed £300 for what some pet owners say looks like little work.
Asked why some vets charge £50 and others many times more, BVA senior vice president Elizabeth Mullineaux said it is “difficult to accurately compare like to like” due to different business models.
As a result of Brexit, British owners must obtain an AHC for every cross-Channel trip as the UK can no longer issue pet passports recognised in the EU.
This involves visiting a vet to obtain a certificate confirming the pet complies with rules including identification and a valid rabies jab.
A recent EU rule clarifying that UK residents may not use French-issued EU pet passports has left many owners shopping around for good-value vets.
Dr Mullineaux said: “Unlike the simpler pet passports, at 9-12 pages long, AHCs are more onerous, complex and time consuming for vets and consequently costly for pet owners.
The required pet travel consultation alone can take around 45 minutes to an hour, even longer where there are multiple animals, and this is reflected in the cost.
“Where costs differ from practice to practice or from one region to the next, it simply reflects that no two businesses are the same, with variations in staffing costs, fee structures as well as the cost of renting the building, and therefore it is difficult to accurately compare like for like.
“However, the government’s recent announcement of a new veterinary agreement with the EU could see some realignment on pet travel rules in the near future, which should make the process easier for everyone.”
Progress is expected at the second UK/EU summit on July 22 towards a new agreement on plant and animal health, which the UK wants to see finalised by summer 2027 – a precursor to it possibly being able to issue EU-recognised pet passports.
Among other topics on the agenda will be a ‘youth experience’ visa scheme.
