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APHA warns vets to stay vigilant over counterfeit pet passports

29 September 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is warning veterinary teams to be alert regarding counterfeit Bulgarian pet passports for dogs, cats and ferrets that are currently in circulation.

Genuine Bulgarian pet passports that have been issued after 29 December 2014 must be uniquely identified with a serial number prefixed with one of the following:

  • BG01BF
  • BG01VP
  • BG01AP
  • BG01VK
  • BG01FS
  • BG01LK
  • BG01VT

If a Bulgarian pet passport has a serial number that does not conform to one of the above, then must be considered counterfeit and should be reported. 

Rabies vaccinations reported in a counterfeit pet passport cannot be verified and therefore Official Veterinarians (OVs) must not use vaccinations reported in a counterfeit pet passport as supporting evidence when issuing an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or Export Health Certificate (EHC).

A counterfeit pet passport may be indicative that the animal was illegally imported and should be reported to your local Trading Standards office.

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