Blind individuals utilizing guide dogs are lobbying for simpler post-Brexit treatments for getting in the EU from the UK.
Guide dog-owners are dealt with the like pet-owners: UK citizens now require an ‘animal health certificate’ (AHC) from their veterinarian, costing ₤ 100 or more, for each journey to the EU.
The UK was not permitted post-Brexit to continue to release EU-recognised ‘pet passports’.
This possibility exists for non-EU states and the UK asked for it, however EU Commission sources stated the UK does not certify as it is for nations which use EU animal health guidelines.
Such ‘Part-one listed’ states at present consist of just the EEA nations (Norway, Iceland …), Switzerland and microstates such as Monaco.
Learn More: Are guide dogs still permitted to take a trip in between UK and France?
Learn More: Which non-EU nations are ‘exempt’ from the EU’s animal travel guidelines?
‘I missed friend’ s Paris funeral service’
David Adams, honorary president of the European Guide Dog Federation (EGDF), who resides in the UK, stated it considers this prejudiced to blind individuals who are required to take a trip with theirdogs
It thinks about the UK“very biosecure” Guide dogs, unlike animals, are constantly on a lead and not most likely to run around by themselves, he stated.
“In the UK, we have no problems with rabies, ticks or worms, etc, so we make sure they are protected [against rabies and tapeworms] when we bring them back from the continent.
“Before Brexit, we could come in freely. Since then, they’ve cast us out like a Third World country with raging animal disease.
“The certificate takes several hours to prepare and can cost up to £250. You can only apply 10 days before you leave.
“When a friend in Paris died, with the funeral a week later, there was no way I could get the certificate in time.
“Then it only lasts one trip once you’ve returned. I used to sometimes do three trips a month, now that’s impossible.”
Learn More: Stress at the border as UK pet passport is rejected on leaving France
‘Almost given up on UK government’
Mr Adams thinks a waiver from the AHC requirement should be offered to UK-based blind people with dogs.
“We’ve written 190 letters to MEPs. An Italian one is raising a question in the parliament.
“Former Brexit negotiator Lord Frost told me he will write to the UK mission in Brussels to raise it and try to get it put on the front burner,” he said.
“We’ve almost given up lobbying in the UK, because by the time a minister looks at it, they change portfolio again. I tried to raise it as a disability and equalities issue, but the ministers in charge of those pass it on to Defra [in charge of animal health] who don’t understand the discrimination aspect of it.”
‘Exceptional circumstances’ rule useless for blind traveller
EU sources said rules allow states to apply certain ‘flexibilities’ in the case of assistance dogs due to article 32 of a policy about animal motion. They could, if they desired, permit unique authorizations, the source stated.
Nevertheless, the post describes permitting animals in without the typical procedures in ‘exceptional circumstances’ in one-off cases, where an authorization has actually been gotten in advance and given, and with the animal being kept in seclusion for a duration on arrival.
It appears not likely to fulfill what the guide dog-owners are requesting for.
We are not familiar with any procedure for unique authorizations to be released by France.
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