§ Ms PerhamTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a parallel system for pet quarantine to cover North America. [60863]
§ Mr. RookerPet Animals arriving from North America are already subject to the same regime as animals arriving from anywhere else outside the British Isles. The 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 will propose a specific way forward on the Advisory Group's recommendations after the public consultation on the Group's report ends on 31 December 1998.
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.