§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if countries with land borders with countries outside the European Union will be eligible for the pet passport system recommended by Professor Kennedy if they comply with the Office International des Epizooties definition of being free from rabies. [81928]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 26 April 1999]: The Kennedy Group recommended that pet cats and dogs resident in all EU and EEA countries should be eligible for alternative arrangements to quarantine, regardless of whether those countries had land borders with countries outside the European Union. In addition, the Government plan to include Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and the Vatican in the new arrangements.
The Kennedy Group recommended that, in addition, islands elsewhere in the world meeting the OIE definition of being free from rabies should be included. Other countries which are rabies free but are not islands would not be included. The Government are following the approach of Professor Kennedy's Group here.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the countries which will be contacted to confirm whether they can comply with the OIE definition of being free from rabies; and when he expects to publish the list of qualifying countries. [81929]
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§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 26 April 1999]: We have already written to the following islands which appear to meet the OIE definition of being rabies free to seek confirmation that this is the case:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Cape Verde
- China (Taiwan)
- Cook Islands
- Falkland Islands
- Fiji
- French Polynesia
- Japan
- Jamaica
- Malta
- Mauritius
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Réunion
- St. Kitts
- St. Lucia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Vanuatu.
The Government are accepting representations from other islands not on the list.