Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what legal requirements govern the importation, movement and keeping of reindeer in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Reindeer are protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. It is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering and for keepers to fail to ensure their needs are met to the extent required by good practice. Defra has a welfare Code for farmed deer which offers guidance on their health and welfare, some of which would also be applicable to reindeer.

Certain diseases affecting reindeer are notifiable. These diseases include foot and mouth disease, bluetongue and chronic wasting disease. We are aware of suspected cases of chronic wasting disease which have been disclosed in wild reindeer, and potentially also moose, in Norway. Exports of deer species, including reindeer and moose, have subsequently been banned from Norway and Sweden by the EU Commission as a special measure to protect deer species elsewhere in the EU.

Imports of reindeer from the rest of the EU to the UK are subject to the import controls outlined below:

• They must be identified in accordance with the requirements of Article 6 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC and be registered by the competent authority in such a way that the holding of origin can be traced.

• They must not be intended for slaughter under a programme for the eradication of an infectious disease.

• They must not have been vaccinated against foot and mouth disease and must satisfy the control measures to be applied in the event of a foot and mouth outbreak.

• They must not come into contact with ungulates other than those of a similar health status.

• They must come from a holding that is not subject to any restrictions for animal health reasons.

• They must have been kept on the holding of origin since birth or for at least 30 days, before despatch.

• They must come from an officially tuberculosis-free/officially brucellosis-free herd/holding or from a holding where it/they was/were subjected with negative results to the tests laid down in Article 6(2)(b) [tuberculosis and brucellosis] of Council Directive 92/65/EEC.

• If both the destination and origin of the animals are establishments approved in accordance with Annex C of the Balai Directive, the consignment should be accompanied by the certificate laid down in Annex E III of Council Directive 92/65/EEC. Otherwise, the consignment must be accompanied by the certificate corresponding to the specimen given in Annex E I to Council Directive 92/65/EEC, signed by an official veterinary surgeon of the country of origin.