§ Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he is taking as a precaution against rabies spreading into the United Kingdom through the Channel ports.
§ Mr. StrangI would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 12th November 1975 to the hon. Member for Fareham (Dr. Bennett) and on 13th January 1976 to the hon. Member for Bournemouth West (Sir J. Eden)—[Vol. 899, c.831–2 and Vol. 903, c. 117–8]. The authorities in the Channel ports are particularly experienced and vigilant in their application of the anti-rabies regulations.
§ Mr. Tim Rentonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is consulting with his French colleagues in the EEC on measures to counteract the spread of rabies.
§ Mr. StrangThere is no present or proposed EEC regulations for the harmonisation of anti-rabies laws; there are good reasons why requirements should differ between member States. We, along with the Irish Republic, are free of rabies and intend to maintain this state of affairs by strict import and quarantine regulations in line with World Health Organisation recommendations. In most other EEC countries rabies is endemic, and all have land frontiers which cannot easily be closed to the movement of wildlife.
There is a full exchange of information on rabies, including vaccine, research 408W with our EEC partners and others, and Ministry experts follow closely the progress of the disease and control measures on the Continent.
We are receiving considerable assistance, in the dissemination abroad of publicity about our regulations, from the authorities in France and other European countries. The French naval and merchant marine authorities have also issued instructions about compliance with our rabies regulations.