Vol. 547 No. 1
274 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 4 December 2001, he will expand on the discussions in which his Department is fully involved at EU level. [1321/02]
The discussions relate to a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the animal health requirements applicable to non-commercial movement of pet animals. The objective of this proposal is to introduce a harmonized system for the movement of such animals both intra-Community and from third countries. The main focus is on rabies control.
The proposal has been discussed on a number of occasions and some issues have emerged on which a consensus has yet to be reached. These issues include the scope of application, the type of identification to be used and the additional safeguards required by the three member states, Ireland, the UK and Sweden, that have traditionally operated a quarantine system.
Discussions are continuing at both Council and working party levels. I will, of course, have to be fully satisfied with the level of public health protection provided by any alternative to our existing system before I could accept any changes.
