English Forum Switzerland - Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

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Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

Hi all,

We are booked to drive (2 people + dog) on the 18th December, and return on the 9th January from London via the EuroTunnel.

We have our 5-day quarantine and testing in place and have the full list of documentation that we need to fill out for transit through France, as well as the GOV.UK docs related to Covid.

We've even been through the all the steps for the dog (titre test, certificate from vet) etc. in the case the UK becomes Albania on the 1st January...

Our only 'open' question is related to that final point...will there be a combined impact of the UK becoming 'unlisted' in the eyes of the EU and Covid restrictions for those unlisted countries preventing our entry & transit through France?

My instinct is that as Swiss resident permits, driving in a ZH plated car and with all documentation completed - that it won't be an issue.

Any help or guidance is appreciated!

Ps. We are planning no stop over in France and usually do the trip over the duration of the day.

Re: Driving to London for Christmas & New Year

Looks to be a problem regarding the dog:

https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home...-id-81538.html

Tom

Re: Driving to London for Christmas & New Year

but I expect entry to be the key date, surely?

Re: Driving to London for Christmas & New Year

Quote:

Originally Posted by st2lemans (Post 3249562)

Looks to be a problem regarding the dog:

https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home...-id-81538.html

Tom

I don't understand this - as the UK and Switzerland have no land border, how else would you do direct entry other than by an airport :confused::confused:

Re: Driving to London for Christmas & New Year

I would guess that only direct entry will be allowed.

Tom

Re: Driving to London for Christmas & New Year

Quote:

Originally Posted by st2lemans (Post 3249562)

Looks to be a problem regarding the dog:

https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home...-id-81538.html

Tom

Thanks - this is indeed very new information, will now need to investigate further as this didn't seem to be on the radar of our vet and their colleagues even this morning!

Re: Driving to London for Christmas & New Year

Quote:

Originally Posted by st2lemans (Post 3249562)

Looks to be a problem regarding the dog:

https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home...-id-81538.html

Tom

On second viewing, it's strange that this relates to 'imports of animals' but then mentions 're-entry' in the same text.

I *think* this may not apply a dog with a Swiss passport travelling back & forth, but maybe someone coming in from the UK with a Uk pet passport...now you can get a sense of the myriad of questions we've had!

Brexit: New regulations on entry with animals and animal products from the UK

Hi there,

I'd appreciate your help on this new release of information below. The wording is indeed confusing as it pertains to 'Imports' of animals and animal products - but does not specify if this applies to Swiss pets with Swiss passports travelling to the UK? Does this mean one can no longer drive with their pet from Switzerland to the UK and back?!

https://www.blv.admin.ch/blv/en/home...-id-81538.html

The element that cause both alarm and confusion are 're-entry' - does this mean returning? Or people who previously had permission to import before so are now 're-entering' (i.e. similar language used for an ESTA for the US)

Logic suggests this applies to imports but the wording really isn't clear. I've also reached out to the BLV directly so can update you on their response.

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

I'd contact BLV asap for clarification. They're usually pretty good at responding to questions.

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medea Fleecestealer (Post 3249625)

I'd contact BLV asap for clarification. They're usually pretty good at responding to questions.

Thank you - have got in touch with them now, let's see what they say. I know a few others have been raising this question the past few weeks.

I think our entry is into the EU via France, so all checks will be conducted there as per the BLV guidance online...just this release threw me a little.

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

btw, which passport does you dog have? CH or UK? Ours has a Danish Passport, but could switch easily to a Swiss one.

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackieH (Post 3249631)

btw, which passport does you dog have? CH or UK? Ours has a Danish Passport, but could switch easily to a Swiss one.

He has a Swiss passport, I am told CH/EU is essentially identical.

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

Just wondering though if this will remain the same. Switzerland has an agreement with the UK, the EU does not.

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackieH (Post 3249645)

Just wondering though if this will remain the same. Switzerland has an agreement with the UK, the EU does not.

Yep but it was covered elsewhere that the EU/CH passport is interchangeable when it comes to this topic. So his entry into France will be as if he was an EU passport.

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

https://www.government.nl/topics/bre...m-after-brexit

The Dutch seem pretty clear.

The crazy klogs and their ferrets :D :D

Re: Driving to London for Christmas & New Year

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekman (Post 3249586)

On second viewing, it's strange that this relates to 'imports of animals' but then mentions 're-entry' in the same text.

It might sound strange but it is legally correct.

In the broader, very general sense any border crossing of goods is considered as an import. If you brought goods abroad and bring it back it is considered as a re-import.

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

Just seen this in another thread:

Quote:

Originally Posted by eng_ch (Post 3249752)

Some of you might have read today's press release by the BLV and started worrying.
I emailed the BLV this afternoon and have had the following - authoritative - reply:

I've just received a reply from the BLV:

Besten Dank für Ihre Fragen und die Hinweise. Die Medienmitteilung gibt den Sachverhalt vereinfacht wieder und kann tatsächlich missverstanden werden. Die Schweiz wendet auch ab 1.1.2021 dieselben Einreisevorschriften wie die EU an. Grundsätzlich gilt:

Für die Einreise oder die Rückreise mit Heimtieren aus dem Vereinigten Königreich gelten ab. 1.1.2021 die Regeln für Drittstaaten. Die direkte Einreise auf dem Luftweg mit Hunden, Katzen und Frettchen ist nur noch über die Flughäfen in Genf, Zürich und Basel möglich. Die direkte Einreise auf dem Luftweg mit Vögeln ist nur über die Flughäfen Genf oder Zürich möglich. Bei einer Einreise auf dem Landweg via die EU erfolgt die Kontrolle beim Eintritt in die EU, d.h. zum Beispiel in Frankreich. Danach kann man mit den Tieren wie gewohnt in die Schweiz einreisen. Gemäss aktuellem Kenntnisstand wird das Vereinigte Königreich als risikoarmes Land bezüglich Tollwut eingestuft. Die aktuellen Informationen dazu finden sie auf folgenden Seiten:

Online-Hilfe Hunde, Katzen, Frettchen
Einreise mit Vögeln

Ich hoffe, Ihnen mit diesen Angaben gedient zu haben. Für weitere Fragen stehen wir gerne zur Verfügung.

Thank you for your questions and comments. The press release presents the facts in a simplified way and can indeed be misunderstood. Switzerland will continue to apply the same entry regulations as the EU from 1.1.2021. Basically:

The rules for third countries will apply to entry or return with pets from the UK from 1.1.2021. Direct entry by air with dogs, cats and ferrets will only be possible via the airports in Geneva, Zurich and Basel. Direct entry by air with birds is only possible via the airports in Geneva or Zurich. In case of entry by land via the EU, the entry formalities will take place at the point of entry into the EU, i.e. for example in France. After that, you can enter Switzerland with the animals as usual. According to current knowledge, the United Kingdom is classified as a low-risk country with regard to rabies. You can find the current information on the following pages:

Online Help Dogs, Cats, Ferrets
Entry with birds

I hope this information helps. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

In other words, the press release is poorly written and the only change is the restriction on the points of entry by air. Travel from the UK over land through the EU will be on the same terms as to the EU from the UK. Don't panic Mr Mainwaring!

https://www.englishforum.ch/pet-corn...ml#post3249752

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

I also got a reply; we explained the full situation and it was as per below:

"A return by car is possible. So long you tell all countries and abide by their import conditions. The documentation to enter the EU will be the same as you need to enter Switzerland"

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medea Fleecestealer (Post 3249776)

Just seen this in another thread:

https://www.englishforum.ch/pet-corn...ml#post3249752

Thanks so much, an even more comprehensive reply than I had...nice that they acknowledge the complexity of the guidance provided!

Re: Driving to London / Brexit: New regs on animal imports

The Kman, this is an issues which is of real concern to many of us- so I'd be very grateful if you report back after your return. Of course, if you travel by the Tunnel, there are only checks on the French side, and never coming back- until now.