Although the UK Withdrawal Agreement will take effect at the end of January, uncertainties remain regarding some key issues, including the transport of pets during the transitional period and beyond.

If UK and EU veterinary health provisions were to diverge, this could affect the procedures for obtaining authorisation to transport pets and increase the time involved, thus hampering the movement of people and their pets between the UK and the EU.

I would therefore like to know if the Commission has taken the necessary steps, in consultation with the United Kingdom, to guarantee consistency between UK and EU veterinary health rules and procedures for authorising the transport of pets once the United Kingdom is no longer officially part of the European Union.

Can the Commission give details of the measures taken?