Written question asked by Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party) on Monday, 13 September 2021, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 September 2021 (named day). It was answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury (Conservative) on Thursday, 16 September 2021 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Dogs: Smuggling

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2020 to Question 63200 on Dogs: Imports, what the outcomes were of the (a) renewed rabies risk assessment and (b) commissioned assessments to understand the risks posed by tapeworms, ticks and tick-borne disease.

Answer: The Government takes the risks of disease seriously and we remain alert to concerns relating to ticks, tick-borne diseases, tapeworm diseases and other diseases. The rabies risk assessment referred to in response to the Answer of 29 June 2020 to Question 63200 on Dogs: Imports has been completed and signed off and shows that despite an increase in the number of dogs entering the UK under both the commercial and non-commercial rules, the declining number of rabies cases in EU Member States has meant that the annual probability of rabies entering the UK from EU Member States is currently very low. The Echinococcus (tapeworm) risk assessment has been completed and is currently at review stage. We are unable to share results at this time. The risk assessment into ticks and tick-borne diseases is ongoing.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 48367
Session: 2021-22
Related items: Dogs: Smuggling
Monday, 29 June 2020
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Dogs Diseases Rabies Smuggling
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk