Written question asked by Kerry McCarthy (Labour) on Thursday, 11 January 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 January 2018. It was answered by George Eustice (Conservative) on Thursday, 18 January 2018 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Hunting

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the risk of the introduction of novel diseases posed by the travel of hunting hounds to other EU countries for sporting visits.

Answer: Defra takes the disease risk posed by dogs entering the United Kingdom seriously. For this reason dogs returning to the UK from other European Member States are required to have a valid rabies vaccination. If dogs are returning to the UK from a Member State that is not Echinococcus multilocularis free, treatment against tapeworm is also required. All dogs returning to the UK from other Member States must have a valid pet passport which details the health preparations required for travel each dog has received. As a result of these existing requirements we do not propose to undertake a further risk assessment.

Secondary information