§ 47. Miss Fookesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if imported horses are subject to any regulations concerned with rabies; and, if not, if he will take action to prevent such animals acting as carriers of the disease.
§ Mr. StrangHorses imported from countries outside the British Isles are sub-770W ject to certification by a veterinary inspector that they are free of any clinical sign of disease, that they come from premises which have been free of certain specified diseases, including rabies, for at least three months, and that they are conveyed direct from those premises without contact with uncertified animals.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to raise with Great Britain's EEC partners the need for co-ordination of anti-rabies measures within the nine EEC countries, particularly with a view to informing travellers from the other EEC countries to Great Britain of the current British regulations.
§ Mr. StrangOn the co-ordination of anti-rabies measures I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. David Price) on 19th May.—[Vol. 911, c.523.]
On co-operation with the other EEC member States in publicising our import controls, we are in direct touch with each of them through our embassies and have their active support in disseminating information. Our embassies are now in the process of distributing new publicity material in six languages for display at ports, marinas, yacht clubs and other suitable locations.
A TV film describing our import controls and requirements has also been widely shown on the Continent. Through the EEC's Standing Veterinary Committee we have been assured of the co-operation of the veterinary services of all member States.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make available to all veterinary surgeons leaflets explaining why it is the policy of his Department not to allow domestic pets to be vaccinated against rabies unless or until an outbreak of the disease occurs in Great Britain, or if the animal is being taken abroad.
§ Mr. StrangThe British Veterinary Association and the British Small Animals Veterinary Association have already been sent copies of the Ministry's explanatory memorandum dated 19th May 1976. This memorandum, which has been made available to hon. Members, includes an explanation of the Government's policy 771W on vaccination against rabies. In addition, it is shortly intended to have a veterinary article on rabies, including the use of vaccine, published in the "Veterinary Record" which is the normal channel of information to the veterinary profession.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state from international sources available to him for the other eight EEC countries, the availability or otherwise of antirabies vaccination on demand.
§ Mr. StrangAs far as I am aware, anti-rabies vaccination for animals is available on demand in all continental EEC countries where rabies is either endemic in wildlife or poses a threat across a land border. The policy on the use of rabies vaccine in the Irish Republic, which is free of rabies, is the same as our own.