§ Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about action to be taken on the recommendation of the committee of inquiry on rabies.
250W
§ Mr. PriorMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have today laid the Rabies (Importation of Mammals) Order, 1971, which will come into effect on 10th January, 1972. The main effects of this order will be to permit the resumption of imports of certain mammals at present banned, except for research purposes, by the Exotic Animals (Importation) Order, 1969, and to subject these and some other species of animals to six months' quarantine and other rabies prevention measures. These measures will apply to all of the 10 orders of mammals which the committee of inquiry recommended should be subject to quarantine.
Consultations have been taking place with the interested organisations on other aspects of the committee's report and further measures arising out of the recommendations will be taken as soon as possible.