To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs when the Travelling with Pets section of his Department's website will be updated to ensure all pet owners travelling to and from GB are aware of the requirements needed to prevent their pet from being quarantined when they return to NI.

The information on the ‘Travelling with Pets’ section of the DAERA website has been reviewed and updated several times in recent months to reflect the developments regarding the requirements and the commencement date for checks in relation to pet travel between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland (NI). The most recent of these updates was made on 11 May 2021.

The ‘Travelling with Pets’ section fully outlines all the European Union (EU)’s pet travel requirements for pet owners with which compliance is necessary to prevent their pet from being quarantined when they return to NI. The ‘Q&As for Pet Travel from 1 January 2021’ section which is also regularly updated, most recently 17 May 2021, is available https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/qas-pet-travel-1-january-2021

My Department is currently considering the next steps with regards to any enforcement of compliance with the EU’s requirements for pet travel from GB to NI from 1 July, 2021. 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 sensible and pragmatic solutions can be found before then. In addition, I am continuing to engage with Ministerial colleagues to urgently seek derogations where possible from the unnecessary additional requirements.

My officials will continue to update the DAERA website as the situation develops regarding flexibilities agreed and/or changes to the current enforcement approach. I can assure you that any updates to the DAERA website will allow sufficient time for pet owners to prepare their pets appropriately for travel, in conjunction with their vet. Updates will also be communicated widely through our usual Departmental media channels.