An animal health certificate (AHC) is required for pet dogs, cats and ferrets to travel from Great Britain (GB) to the European Union (EU) and Northern Ireland (NI) with their owners. Official Veterinarians (OVs) have been issuing AHCs since January 2021, but completing these long and complex documents in a hectic practice environment can feel stressful. Owner circumstances and requests also mean that vets must sometimes think carefully about completing certain sections.
This article will summarise the main requirements of these forms and answer some of the common queries that come up when the Official Vet team discuss AHCs with vets in practice.
What can an AHC be used for?
The AHC is designed for non-commercial movements; in other words, there must be no change in ownership. This means the owner’s details must always be entered in Box I.1 (Consignor) and Box I.5 (Consignee), regardless of transport arrangements.
The maximum number of pets allowed per AHC is five, but there is an exception for animals travelling to attend competitions or shows
AHCs can only be issued to domestic dogs, cats and ferrets, although it is possible to add more than one of these species to the same certificate. The maximum number of pets allowed per AHC is five, but there is an exception for animals travelling to attend competitions or shows.
To meet the requirements for an AHC, the owner (or authorised person if applicable) must travel within five days of the pet’s movement. If the owner or authorised person is unable to travel within five days of their pet, it does not fulfil the criteria for an AHC despite being a non-commercial movement. In these circumstances, the owner would need to apply for an export health certificate (EHC) instead.
How long is an AHC valid for?
An AHC is valid for entry into the EU and NI up to 10 days after the date of issue. The date of issue is counted as day one, so a certificate issued on the first of the month can be used to enter the EU until and including the 10th of that month. It is only valid for one entry so owners will need a new AHC for each trip from GB to the EU/NI.
How soon after a primary rabies vaccination can an AHC be issued?
After a primary rabies vaccination, the minimum wait time before a pet can travel is 21 days. For most brands of rabies vaccines licensed in the UK, this corresponds to the onset of immunity claim in the datasheet. However, some rabies vaccines have a longer onset of immunity; therefore, the minimum wait after the primary rabies vaccine is dictated by the datasheet information. OVs should check the licence for the vaccine used and ensure it has been administered following the manufacturer’s instructions.
The date of vaccination is counted as day zero when calculating validity. For example, if you administer a rabies vaccine with a 21-day onset of immunity on the first of the month, the first day that the AHC can be certified and the pet can travel is the 22nd of that month.
It is important to note that this wait is not applicable for booster rabies vaccinations, providing they have been given within the validity of the previous vaccine and this is evidenced by the supporting documents attached to the AHC.
Who signs the owner declaration when someone else is transporting the pet?
AHCs must be accompanied by a declaration of non-commercial movement. Most animals travelling on an AHC will travel with their owners, in which case the owner will sign this. However, it is also possible for a pet to travel with a person authorised by the owner and/or for a courier to transport the pet. Such cases often seem to lead to questions over who should sign the declaration.
It must always be the person travelling with (or within five days of) the pet who signs the declaration of non-commercial movement
It must always be the person travelling with (or within five days of) the pet who signs the declaration of non-commercial movement. This person can be the owner or a person with authorisation from the owner – most likely a family member or a friend. A courier/commercial shipper cannot sign because they do not know the nature of the move.
Therefore, in a scenario where the owner is travelling within five days of the pet but someone else is transporting the pet for the owner, the owner completes the declaration and details of who will be responsible for the pet during transport. This can be either an authorised person, such as a friend/family member, or a pet courier. Alternatively, if the owner is not travelling and the pet is, instead, travelling with (or within five days of) an authorised person, the authorised person must complete the declaration.
Are there any common mistakes that lead to AHCs being rejected?
One of the most common reasons for rejection of an AHC at the border relates to the rabies vaccination table, in which the OV is asked to detail the date of implantation and/or reading of the microchip (Figure 1).
The microchip must be read at the time of rabies vaccination, and this must be recorded. If the microchip is not read, there is no way to confirm beyond doubt that the specific animal that is travelling was vaccinated.
The date in this table, therefore, refers to the date the microchip was either implanted or read to verify the pet’s identity before administering the rabies vaccine detailed in the table; it must not be confused with the date the chip is read and the animal’s identity verified prior to certifying the AHC.
The date of implantation and/or reading in this table must always precede or match the date of the rabies vaccination. The supporting identification and vaccination documents attached to the AHC should evidence that the chip was read, and that the veterinarian verified the animal’s identity before vaccinating them.
What do OVs need to be aware of regarding tapeworm treatment?
Treatment for tapeworms is required for dogs to enter certain countries, including the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway (although Norway is not an EU country, it accepts AHCs and is part of the Pet Travel Scheme). This treatment must be administered no more than 120 hours and no less than 24 hours before entry to the relevant country.
Paragraph II.4 on the AHC contains the tapeworm attestations and relevant treatment table (Figure 2). OVs should certify the relevant paragraph at the time of certification. If a dog is travelling to a tapeworm-free country and the treatment has been administered prior to or at the time of certification, OVs should certify the first (“either”) option. If the dog is travelling to a country that does not require this treatment or travelling to a tapeworm-free country but the AHC is certified more than 120 hours before entry to the relevant country, the OV should certify that no tapeworm treatment has been given and the treatment can be added after issuing the AHC to ensure the timeframe for treatment is correct.
Non-OVs can enter the tapeworm treatment in this table and use a practice stamp. Empty boxes should be left blank so further treatments can be entered if required. Dogs will also require tapeworm treatment before re-entry to GB; however, this is not required if they travel directly from a tapeworm-free country to GB.
OVs need to remember that this treatment only applies to dogs. If an AHC is issued for cats/ferrets only, this section of the AHC is non-applicable and can be crossed out.
Are there different rules for movements to Northern Ireland?
At present, the official requirements for pets to travel to Northern Ireland (NI) are the same as for pets entering the EU
At present, the official requirements for pets to travel to Northern Ireland (NI) are the same as for pets entering the EU. It is expected that this will change if the Windsor Framework is implemented. At the time of writing, a timeline for this has not been published. As always, OVs should check the latest guidance.
