§ Chris RuaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) how many exceptions to the six month quarantine rule have been made for animals coming into the UK in each of the last 10 years; [80580]
(2) what the grounds are for exemptions of the six month quarantine rule for animals entering the UK.[80581]
§ Mr. MorleyExemptions from quarantine were not granted before 1999. With the impending introduction of the Pet Travel Scheme the Government was prepared to grant exemption from quarantine in exceptional situations. To qualify for consideration for exemption we require that the applicant, or his or her child, must have a life-threatening illness, which makes it a strong possibility that they will not survive for more than six months. Evidence of the life-threatening illness is subject to independent medical scrutiny. Exceptionally, we have also granted exemption on national security grounds.
The following table shows the number of cases, in England, which have been exempted from the six months quarantine requirement in the last four years. The figures from 2000 exclude those animals which comply with the requirements of the Pet Travel Scheme.
Year Number of cases in which exemption from guarantine was granted
1999 4 2000 5 2001 3 20021 1 1 To 20 November