The scheme has been criticised by the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MP Jim Allister who said its impact has been overstated as the original requirements were not being fully enforced.
Speaking in a House of Commons debate last year, he said: “I take issue with the minister saying that this is an improvement.
“The original propositions of the protocol were never implemented.
“The grace periods remain the current position, which is that no pet passports, no documentation and no requirement to be part of a pet scheme is needed to bring your pet from Great Britain to the other part of the United Kingdom.
“What these regulations do is impose a pet passport scheme.”
Guide Dogs NI said it was pleased with the progress and clarity surrounding pet travel.
It advised those travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with a guide dog should plan in advance, as the process to issue one takes up to five working days.
The Search and Rescue Dog Association Ireland North (SARDA IN) expressed strong support for the scheme.
It said the policy simplifies travel for its highly-trained search and rescue dogs.
The UK and EU are working on an agrifood deal that will reduce the impact of the “Irish Sea border’, but it is understood that it will not remove the need for the PTD.
