§ Dr. CableTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many exemptions have been given from quarantine regulations for cats and dogs over the last year; and on what grounds. [58661]
§ Mr. RookerNone. However, commercially traded cats and dogs imported into the UK from EU Member States are exempt from quarantine if they can comply with the requirements of Council Directive 92/65/EEC. This allows commercially traded cats and dogs to be imported into the UK without the need to enter quarantine providing they: have been born on and kept on the holding of origin since birth; have been vaccinated against rabies when at least 3 months old; have remained in the Member State of origin for at least 6 months following vaccination against rabies; have undergone a blood test following250W vaccination to ensure that the rabies vaccination has been effective; are permanently identified; and are accompanied by a health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the Member State of Origin verifying compliance with the requirements of the Directive. Further checks on compliance are conducted following each animal's arrival in the UK. 95 dogs and 22 cats were imported into the UK in 1997 in accordance with these requirements.