QUARANTINE FOR PETS

Early day motion 147, tabled 19 June 1997 by Charles Kennedy (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 48 members.

That this House notes that the current quarantine regulations for the movement of pets were introduced in 1901; notes that since 1974 there has only been one case of rabies found in an animal in quarantine; notes the changes to border controls and the relative ease with which an animal can now be smuggled into the United Kingdom; believes that an alternative to the costly provision of quarantine is effective vaccination and compulsory tamper proof ID for pets, such as tattoo or micro-chip; believes that there is now a strong case for reforming our quarantineregulations; and urges the Minister for Agriculture to review quarantine regulations as a matter of priority and set out a timetable for the introduction of legislation.

Signatures by party: Labour 24, Liberal Democrat 20, Labour/Co-operative 3, UUP 1.