HC Deb 02 August 1957 vol 574 c275W
Mr. Marlowe

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what experiments have been made with inoculation or other veterinary methods as an alternative to quarantine for dogs being brought here from abroad; and why no steps have been taken to reduce or abolish quarantine by the use of modern scientific methods.

Mr. Amory

It has been demonstrated in other countries over many years that while inoculation of dogs is a useful method of control where rabies is endemic it cannot be relied upon to confer complete immunity. An expert committee set up by the World Health Organisation has expressed the view that countries free from rabies should continue to prohibit the import of dogs and cats or to subject them to a long period of quarantine, preferably six months, at the port of entry. I am entirely satisfied, so far as this country is concerned, that to reduce the quarantine period or to rely on inoculation would be an unjustifiable risk.