A fresh pet passport option for residents of Great Britain
Traveling to Northern Ireland will take effect next month.
Starting June 4, the agreements set out in the Windsor Framework will be applicable for pets traveling from England, Scotland, and Wales to Northern Ireland. This includes dogs, cats, and ferrets.
Described as
a straightforward, permanent pet travel document,
the scheme is free of charge and lasts for the pet’s entire life.
Residents of Northern Ireland do not require any documents when traveling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, however, pets or assistance dogs must be microchipped prior to their journey.
Individuals traveling from Great Britain must also confirm that they will not bring their pets to another EU country through this program.
Opponents of the plan encompass Northern Irish pro-Brexit figure and ex-Labour Member of Parliament, Baroness Hoey, who has labeled the modification as a “preposterous” concession to EU regulations.
In her address to Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn via a social media post, Baroness Hoey stated: “Here we are again with so many politicians claiming there wouldn’t be any changes to pet travel due to the Protocol/Windsor Framework… Yet another concession to absurd EU regulations by the government.”
Last year, Baroness Hoey cautioned that this could deter pet owners from traveling to Northern Ireland if they intended to cross the border as well. However, the ex-leader of the SDLP and Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick viewed it as “a practical resolution” not worthy of political disputes.
The plan doesn’t permit travel to Northern Ireland when relocating animals for business purposes, like transporting pups for sale or journeying with over five pets.
Exemptions include travelling for training for a competition, exhibition or sporting event in Northern Ireland.
This will require written proof of registration for the event and each of the pets will need to be over six months old.
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