Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fake pet passports were (a) identified and (b) removed from circulation in each of the last five years.
Answered by George Eustice
We are aware that there are cases of unscrupulous individuals that abuse the Pet Travel Scheme (PTS) by using pet passports containing false information to bring dogs into the United Kingdom. We take the issue of PTS abuse seriously. The UK carries out more checks of pets at the border than most other EU Member States and penalties are in place for people found to be breaking the rules. Under the Non Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order (the Pets Order) a person found guilty of providing false or misleading information, including information contained in a pet passport is liable to up to three months imprisonment or an unlimited fine. Local Authorities are responsible for taking action against individuals, for offences under the Pets Order.
Neither Defra nor the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) hold data on the number of pet passports confirmed to be fake and removed from circulation. When APHA identifies instances of pet passports containing false information; for instance the vet authorisation being incorrect in a real document, it may raise the issue with the authorities in the country where the passport was issued. Where serious cases of PTS abuse are identified the UK Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) will write the CVO of the country concerned highlighting the non-compliances identified and requesting the outcome of any investigations.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what security features have been built into pet passports to prevent fake passports from being used to bring animals into the UK.
Answered by George Eustice
The pet passport must be in accordance with the format, layout and language requirements set out in Part 1 of Annex III to Commission Implementing Regulation ((EU) No 577/2013).
The passport must then be completed and issued by an authorised veterinarian, documenting the alpha-numeric code displayed by the transponder or the tattoo, the details of the vaccination against rabies, and where applicable, the details of the treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis.
After the required information has been entered in Section III of the passport, a transparent adhesive laminate seals the page.
Finally, where the information on one of the pages of the passport takes the form of a sticker, a transparent adhesive laminate seals that sticker in the case where the latter is not self-destructed when it is removed.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what training is provided to carrier staff, Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) staff and Animal and Plant Health Agency staff to ensure that they are able to identify fake pet passports used for animals travelling under the PETS.
Answered by George Eustice
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is responsible for providing the Carrier Manager and Checkers with training of the requirements for the approved carriage of PETS eligible animals.
APHA have produced a guide for authorised Pet Carriers and Checkers, which includes a section on suspected fraud and examples of fraudulent documents.
All APHA staff carrying out this work are trained and receive mentoring from experienced colleagues. When carrying out a check of a cat, dog or ferret (commercial or under the Pet Travel Scheme), APHA staff have access to the Operations Manual instructions and checklists which provide clear guidance which can be followed during the check.
Carriers and Pet Checkers are advised to refer all cases of suspected fraud to APHA using the Report of Non-Compliant Pet Passport or Third Country Certificate form (IV62) along with copies of the relevant documents. Reporting these cases enable APHA to take action against the issuing vet where appropriate.
APHA field team carry out quality assurance checks on carriers and checkers to monitor the on-going standard of performance of the carrier and approved Checker. The level of checking carried out is in line with the frequency and proportion of animals transported.
APHA’s Intelligence Team and Imports Team receive intelligence about fraudulent pet passports and this is communicated to field staff, Pet Carriers and Checkers.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the security features contained within pet passports.
Answered by George Eustice
Since harmonisation with the EU pet travel rules on 1 January 2012, decisions regarding the effectiveness of pet passports or otherwise have been carried out at EU level, in conjunction with other EU member states, and in accordance with EU law.
The Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals Order 2011 contains provisions for the enforcement of these Regulations through a system of official controls, the responsibility for which is delegated to transport companies or their agencies and enforcement authorities.
Defra has not carried out any individual assessment on the effectiveness of the security features contained within pet passports, instead focusing on a fair and rigorous enforcement system for pets entering the UK which facilitates safe travel.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2017 to Question 116533, on rolling stock, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect on the environment of the development of bi-modal trains; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
The assessment of the environmental impacts of the development of bi-modal trains is a matter for the Secretary of State for Transport and Defra has therefore not made such an assessment.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2017 to Question 118503, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of diesel particulates from bi-mode trains on the health of passengers, railway workers and people who live near to railway lines.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given on 05 February 2018, PQ 125393.