Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on helping ensure that people with assistance dogs are able to travel to the EU without producing an animal medical certificate.

The United Kingdom has been formally 'listed' as a 'Part 2' third country for the purposes of the European Union pet travel scheme, which means that new rules apply to pet movements from Great Britain to the European Union and to Northern Ireland. The pet health and documentary requirements for such pet travel are set out under the European Union Pet Travel Regulations. These rules also apply to assistance dogs.

Defra recognise the undue impact that these changes are having on many people, including pet owners and assistance dog users. We are continuing to seek agreement from the European Commission on awarding Great Britain 'Part 1' listed status and recognition of the United Kingdom's tapeworm-free status, and we see no valid animal health reason for these not to be granted.

Achieving these would alleviate a number of pet travel rules for all travellers, including the need for an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). We have one of the most rigorous pet checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity and we continue to discuss pet travel issues with the European Union at appropriate forums.

We are proactively engaging with the assistance dog community and relevant external partners on the impacts on dog movements from Great Britain to the European Union. We will continue to work closely with assistance dog organisations on these issues and to share the latest advice and guidance (in accessible formats) with their members on pet travel requirements.