Pet owners taking their furry friends on trips within EU countries are now required to get an AHC (Animal Health Certificate) to allow them to travel, instead of the previous pet passport which is now void.
With these new changes in mind, experts are revealing the easy mistakes that can be made as travellers will be getting to grips with the new requirements.
Firstly, Simon McCulloch, Chief Commercial Officer at Staysure, warns pet owners against assuming this requirement is covered in your travel insurance.
He says: “The new AHC (Animal Health Certificate) rules are an important reminder that travelling with a pet involves a separate layer of preparation that standard travel insurance simply doesn’t cover.
“The AHC is now your pet’s equivalent of a passport. Without it, your pet can’t cross the border, which means the whole trip stops before it starts. Travel insurance policies are not designed to cover that type of scenario, in the same way it wouldn’t cover you for travelling without the necessary travel documents.”
Simon adds:
“Many pet owners may not realise that even if you do everything correctly and make it to your holiday destination, your standard travel insurance policy is unlikely to cover emergency vet bills if your pet falls ill or is injured while abroad. This will typically require additional cover, and it’s worth looking at this carefully before you travel, particularly if your pet has an existing health condition, which could make treatment abroad more complex and more costly.
“If you’re unsure what your policy covers when travelling with a pet, check your documents carefully and contact your provider before you travel.”
Dr Emma Chandley, a vet working with pet insurance brand Petgevity, offers insight into when an AHC needs to be obtained – warning EU travellers against accidentally leaving it too late to get one.
“An AHC must be completed within 10 days before entry into the EU and is valid for a single trip. Once issued, it allows onward travel within the EU for up to four months”, she says, “and if your pet has not had a rabies vaccination yet, you’ll be unable to get an AHC until 21 days has passed since the vaccination. This is an important requirement for an AHC in order to travel, so make sure you’ve planned far enough in advance of your holiday that you’ll be able to get one in time.
“AHC requirements differ for some EU countries. For example, dogs travelling directly to Ireland, Finland or Malta must receive tapeworm treatment administered by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before entry.”
What can you expect at an AHC appointment?
Prior to your appointment, you will need to submit pet details and travel dates to the Official Veterinarian (OV) practice.
“These are private veterinary surgeons authorised to perform government-contracted work on behalf of the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency)”, says Dr Emma, “this means your regular veterinary practice may not be able to issue you with an AHC so you’ll need to check beforehand.
“Your pet’s microchip will be scanned and you’ll be asked to confirm that your travel arrangements are for recreational reasons and not for reasons like animal exportation as this requires different paperwork.
“The OV will also confirm your pet’s rabies records during your appointment.”
Photo by Quỳnh Anh Nguyễn: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-a-gray-cat-15624872/
