§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the operation of the antirabies laws as they relate to horses which are allowed to enter the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StrangHorses are imported subject to general control arrangements and veterinary certification that they are free of clinical signs of disease and come directly from premises free for at least three months of certain diseases, including rabies. In addition horses, in common with most farm animals, are subject to specific rabies controls which provide for them to be placed in quarantine should circumstances warrant it.
I am satisfied that the controls are effective. There is no history of horses acting as vectors of rabies, but should any risk become apparent the Government would certainly not hesitate to apply the full quarantine restrictions to horses or any other species in the same category.