To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) for an update on pet passports as required for travel between GB and NI, including details involved in their enforcement on 1 July; and (ii) how the public will be made aware of the rules.

As a result of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland (NI) Protocol, the European Union (EU) Pet Travel Regulation (Regulation (EU) 576/2013), which details the documentary, health and compliance check requirements for the travel of pet dogs between or into EU Member States, continues to apply in NI, following the end of the transition phase. Therefore, there are now additional requirements for pet travel from Great Britain (GB) to NI, including the need for appropriate documentation, rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment.

I am acutely aware of the impact of, what I consider to be, completely unnecessary new measures on those travelling within the United Kingdom (UK).

After engaging with my officials to find potential flexibilities, and considering pet owners have not had time to familiarise themselves with the new rules, I confirmed that DAERA will delay the introduction of any checks on pet travel from GB to NI until 1 July 2021. As a result, there will be no routine checks until then.

I have written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice MP, and to the European Commission, highlighting these issues, and particularly the entirely unjustified requirements for rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment, given that both the UK and the Republic of Ireland (RoI) are considered free from both diseases.

I have also requested that urgent consideration be given to the introduction of a ‘Common Travel Area’ for pets travelling between GB, NI and the RoI. A joint UK/NI/RoI working group has now been established to consider where flexibilities can be achieved, and I can advise that this group has met on a number of occasions and will continue to engage on these issues.

This matter has also now been escalated by the UK Government to the European Commission seeking urgent resolution to the matters. The Commission has responded and discussions are ongoing.

My Department is currently considering its next steps with regards to any enforcement of compliance with the European Union’s requirements for pet travel from GB to NI from 1st July, if required. The present position is set out in the Department’s Compliance protocol, available https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/compliance-protocol-sanitary-phytosanitary-controls-and-point-entry-marketing-standards-checks-gb-ni. However, it is my hope that sensible and pragmatic solutions can be found before then, from the discussions and processes outlined above, which will be to the benefit of all those travelling with pets into NI from GB from 1st July on. In addition, I will continue engagement with Ministerial colleagues to urgently seek derogations where possible from these unnecessary additional requirements.

In order to keep the general public updated, any progress made or flexibilities agreed in respect of the additional requirements, in addition to any changes to the current enforcement of checks, information will be published on the DAERA website https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/travelling-pets, on the DAERA Frequently Asked Questions document https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/qas-pet-travel-1-january-2021and communicated widely through our usual Departmental media channels.