Once again the only thing we know for sure about pet transport post Brexit, is that we know nothing for sure!

General opinion seems to be that in the event of a Deal, or indeed Remain, nothing should change but in the event of a No Deal a UK transporters DEFRA Certificate and Type 2 License will be invalid, as mentioned before, meaning that a EU based transporter would need both a EU equivalent Certificate and License for movement through the EU and a UK Certificate and License for movement in the UK, and vice versa.

I recently posted about my conversation with APHA regards the process for using our Calais Shuttle Service to bring animals into the UK for transporters wanting to travel with more than the permitted 20 pets. At the same time I asked about the possibility of using a EU licensed transporter to bring animals to Calais, and then a UK licensed transporter bringing them into UK. for example by using our UK Shuttle Service combined with the Calais Shuttle Service.

Understandably APHA could not provide a definitive answer but they provided more hope than we had received before.

In addition to confirming that the relevant license and certificates would be needed for any transporter involved they also stated that “it should be noted that transferring animals from vehicle to vehicle in the case of livestock can only take place at a suitable premises such as a market or control post.”

As the Pet Passport Office in Calais is a control post I think this would be ok, so in theory in the event of a No Deal we can work with EU registered pet transporters to bring re-homed cats and dogs into the UK.

More later, but for now it is looking optimistic.