§ Mr. VazTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to reduce the quarantine period for pet animals from(a) North America and (b) Europe. [61478]
§ Mr. RookerThe Advisory Group on Quarantine has recommended that quarantine should be replaced for cats and dogs leaving the UK and returning after visits to the European Union and European Economic area countries, and rabies free islands in the rest of the world; quarantine would also be replaced for cats and dogs entering the UK from such countries. Quarantine would be retained for cats and dogs coming into the UK from other countries. The Government are sympathetic to these recommendations.
The Advisory Group recommended that further consideration be given to the risks arising from allowing cats and dogs from North America into Great Britain without undergoing quarantine. This study is underway.
The Government will propose a specific way forward on the matters covered by the Advisory Group's report after the public consultation on the Advisory Group's recommendations ends on 31 December 1998.