§ Mr. Charles Morrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to protect horses in Great Britain from the risk of introduction of Venezuelant equine encephalomyelitis from countries where the disease occurs or to which it may spread.
§ Mr. PriorMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have today made the Equine Animals (Importation) Amendment Order, 1971, which prohibits, except under licence, the importation of equine animals from any hitherto permitted source outside Europe. Under these provisions imports of equine animals will be confined to those for which satisfactory veterinary certification can be provided and which originate in areas where there is no serious risk of disease.