Animal Health Certificates
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she is having with UK border control authorities to ensure staff training about the need for Animal Health Certificates at the UK border.
Answered by Stephen Morgan
Checks on pets travelling from Great Britain (GB) into the EU, requiring an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), are completed on behalf of the competent authority in the member state of destination rather than by UK authorities.
Checks on pets entering GB are conducted by pet checkers. Pet checkers are employed by carriers to undertake compliance checks on all pet dogs, cats and ferrets, on behalf of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the competent authority responsible for pet travel.
Pet checkers have received the necessary training and guidance to complete these checks and ensure that all pet dogs, cats, and ferrets meet the necessary health and documentary requirements.
The import processes for pets, including training for pet checkers, are under continual review and monitoring by APHA, and the Government is satisfied with the current guidance in place regarding AHCs.
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