DEFRA is holding a second hearing of its ‘Moving animals across borders’ inquiry tomorrow with members of the public invited to view the evidence online.
As a result of the UK leaving the EU and being granted national listed status as a third country, the movement of animals across borders faces a ‘raft of regulation changes’.
The rule changes will affect arrangements for pets travelling between GB and the EU or Northern Ireland, with GB-issued pet passports no longer valid for travel.
From July there will also be further controls put in place by the UK requiring imported horses entering the UK to go through a Border Control Post.
The inquiry is to scrutinise the impact of the new agreement and relationship with the EU on how animals can be moved across borders, focusing on live animal exports, equines and domestic animals.
The scope of the inquiry covers impacts on animal health including disease outbreak, economic interests, the capacity of the UK to adapt to new regulations and the illegal movement of animals across borders.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s second evidence session for this inquiry begins at 2.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday May 18), with evidence being heard from Jan Rodgers, director of research and policy, The Horse Trust; Ross Hamilton, head of public affairs, British Horseracing Authority and Roly Owers, chief executive, World Horse Welfare.
From 3.30pm there will be further evidence from Paula Boyden, veterinary director of Dogs Trust; Maggie Roberts, director of veterinary services, Cats Protection and David Bowles, head of public affairs and campaigns, RSPCA.
The sessions can be watched online via https://parliamentlive.tv/Commons
