26 June 2000

Dear Mr Hamilton

PET TRAVEL SCHEME

Thank you for your letter of 1 June to Andrew Beech in which you set out questions on the Pet Travel Scheme. Andrew is on leave at the moment.

You ask about inclusion of rabies-free islands. The Minister hopes to make an announcement listing the rabies-free islands which are to be included in the Pet Travel Scheme within the next few months. This will be widely publicised including on our website.

Inclusion of North America in the Scheme will be considered after the Scheme is extended to rabies-free islands by early next year. As you know, risk assessment had shown a greater risk of rabies were animals from North America to be included in PETS. Ministers have decided, therefore, to defer consideration of the inclusion of North America until after the full Scheme is in operation. We will then look again at North America to see if there are ways of managing the additional risk down to acceptable levels.

All airlines flying into the UK were invited to express interest in taking part in the Pet Travel Scheme. Only eight have done so. The following airlines are now taking bookings for animals under the Pet Travel Scheme:

British Midland Airways - from Amsterdam to London Heathrow

Finnair - from Helsinki to London Heathrow

Lufthansa - from Frankfurt to London Heathrow

Discussions are still underway with British Airways, Iberia'a Airways and Qantas with a view to agreeing their 'Required Methods of Operation'

Yours sincerely,

MARTIN WILLIAMS

PET TRAVEL SCHEME

ANIMAL HEALTH (DISEASE CONTROL) A