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Quaff Web Site: http://freespace.virgin.net/simon.green/

E Mail: quaff@lagness.prestel.co.uk

Andrew Beech, Esq.

Head of Animal Health Division

MAFF

1A Page Street

London SW1P 4PQ 20 May 00

Dear Mr Beech,

I do not wish to be a nuisance, but there are some real and confusing issues related to this piece of paperwork as it pertains to the Pet Travel Scheme.

I enclose a copy of the French regulations downloaded from the French Embassy website. I draw your attention to paragraph b. which calls for a rabies vaccination certificate and a certificate to confirm that the animal does not show signs of any contagious disease issued by a licensed veterinarian. Surely a Licensed Veterinary Officer is a Licensed Veterinarian?

This issue is particularly relevant for people in France (be they French nationals or UK citizens resident there) who wish to bring their pets over to UK for short visits (let us assume 10 days) under the PET Scheme. These people cannot possibly comply with the MAFF requirement to obtain an Export Health Certificate since this bureaucratic process takes about two weeks to achieve. The process as it stands is thus a restriction to free movement.

Since the French authorities very rarely ask to see this certificate, the very fact that it is so difficult to obtain encourages most people to ignore it. It would clearly be very much more sensible, achievable and efficient if LVIs were able to issue the certificate at will.

We are aware that for travel to France from any other European country, all one has to do is visit a vet and obtain a simple health certificate. The UK system is therefore the most inconvenient, bureaucratic and inefficient.

I have written to the French Ministry to ask exactly what they require of a French family returning to France from another EU country after a short visit.

May I now ask what steps you advise for our members in Europe should take when bringing their pets to UK for a short visit before returning to or through France.

                                                                                                                            CFB Hamilton

Encl: Extract from French Embassy, London website.