Written question asked by Mark Tami (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 January 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 30 January 2004. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Friday, 30 January 2004 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proposals she has to reform the quarantine requirements for domestic animals entering the UK. - Including ref to the Kennedy Report, Quarantine and Rabies: A Reappraisal.

Answer: Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to reform the quarantine requirements for domestic animals entering the UK. [150796] Mr. Bradshaw: Following the report in September 1998 by the Advisory Group on Quarantine (the Kennedy Report), "Quarantine and Rabies: A Reappraisal", the Government undertook a radical reform of the UK quarantine regulations. On 28 February 2000, the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) was introduced, which allows cats and dogs from specified countries and which comply with certain conditions to enter the UK without going into quarantine. The Scheme has now been operating successfully for four years. We have no plans for any further major changes to quarantine law. However, between December 2000 and March 2001, MAFF undertook a consultation exercise on proposals for legislation to update the law governing quarantine premises. Agreement of new EU rules on the movement of pet animals will also require some changes to the national quarantine legislation. We therefore expect to review the detailed rules on quarantine during 2004.

Secondary information