AQW 18759/17-22

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 12/05/2021
Answered On Date: 25/05/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) what action he has taken to enable the free movement of people who use assistance dogs from 1 July 2021; and (ii) what Equality Impact Assessment has been done to ensure the rights of people with disabilities who use assistance dogs are not going to be impacted by a lack of progress in this matter.

Answer:

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, including assistance and working dogs, between or into European Union Member States, continues to apply in Northern Ireland (NI), following the end of the transition phase. This is as a result of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol.

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). I am particularly concerned about the significant implications for guide dog users, those travelling with pets to attend shows and exhibitions, hobby breeders, and the potential impact on tourism for those wishing to holiday in NI or return to NI from Great Britain (GB) accompanied by their pets.

I have therefore 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.

Furthermore, I have 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. The Commission has responded and technical discussions are ongoing. In the interim, I will continue engagement with Ministerial colleagues to urgently seek derogations where possible from these unnecessary additional requirements.

I have also confirmed, after exploring potential flexibilities, and considering pet owners have not had time to familiarise themselves with the new rules, that DAERA would delay the introduction of any checks on compliance with the EU rules on pet travel from GB to NI until 1 July 2021. As a result, there will be no routine checks on travellers’ compliance, until then.

My Department is currently considering the next steps with regards this issue. 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. It is my hope, however, that from the discussions and processes outlined above, sensible and pragmatic solutions can be found before then.

Any progress made or flexibilities agreed in respect of the additional requirements, along with any changes to the current enforcement approach will be published on the DAERA website at 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-2021 and communicated widely through our usual Departmental media channels.

An equality screening exercise was carried out by DARD in 2014 regarding changes to the EU Pet Travel Scheme and the proposed amendment of the Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals (NI) Order 2011. This screening exercise found that there would be no impact on equality of opportunity and therefore an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) was deemed to be unnecessary.

As outlined, my Department is currently considering the next steps with regards this matter in considering that the EU now defines GB as a third country for the purposes of pet travel. I can assure you that all relevant equality-screening exercises will be carried out, as necessary, with regards to enforcement of the requirements as detailed above. Should the equality screening exercise deem that an EQIA is necessary it will be carried out as required.