Britain has asked to rejoin the European Union's pet passport scheme as part of Brexit reset talks, four years after leaving the arrangement when the Brexit transition period ended.
UK officials want British cats, dogs and ferrets to regain EU freedom of movement as they discuss a new Swiss-style veterinary deal.
Some 250,000 UK pet owners were estimated to have taken their pets to the EU annually before Britain left the scheme in January 2021.
Taking a British pet to the EU or Northern Ireland is now far more expensive and time-consuming for owners due to post-Brexit rules.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and Keir Starmer
Reuters
Under current rules, UK pet owners can no longer use EU pet passports and instead need to get a vet's certificate confirming rabies vaccinations are up to date before travelling.
A rabies jab typically costs between £50 and £80, while an animal health certificate ranges from £100 to £200.
Additional worming treatment required for travel to Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway costs around £15, bringing potential costs to £295. By contrast, the EU pet passport is a single document valid for life as long as rabies vaccinations remain current.
The request to rejoin the pet passport scheme comes ahead of Monday's Brexit 'reset' summit in London, where the UK Government will host EU leaders.
A deal on sanitary and phytosanitary measures is expected to be secured by the Government, conceding to EU demands on a fish-related agreement.
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Frodo Baggins the pug was the first to travel with the pet passport in 2002
PA
This agreement would see the UK align with EU laws on plant and animal health and follow European court rulings, opening the door to Britain rejoining the pet passport scheme.
A Government source said: "We have always been clear that that kind of agreement can bring all kinds of benefits."
The pet passport scheme is just one element of a broader push to reset UK-EU relations.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has called for a "major reset" with the EU, urging both sides to "build bridges" and move beyond Brexit divisions.
In a report published ahead of the summit, the CBI calls for "practical steps" to ease travel, cut red tape and take joint action on energy, climate and defence.
The group says the current setup is "no longer fit for purpose" in a world of rising geopolitical threats and economic uncertainty.
The Government's aims for the reset include a defence deal and wider negotiation of the trading relationship between the UK and the bloc. A security pact could enable greater UK involvement in EU defence procurement projects and access to loans for British defence firms.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed confidence during a visit to Albania yesterday, saying: "I'm confident we will make really good progress into Monday."
He added that his refusal to conduct "megaphone diplomacy" had enabled the Government to make "good progress" in negotiations with the EU.
