The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (“the International Travel Regulations”).

Regulations 3 and 4 amend the International Travel Regulations so that a fully vaccinated amber list arrival does not need to self-isolate or take a day 8 test, in accordance with those regulations.

Regulation 5 makes amendments to Schedule 1 of the International Travel Regulations by adding “Cuba”, “Indonesia”, “Myanmar”, and “Sierra Leone”.

Regulation 6 makes amendments to Schedule 2 of the International Travel Regulations by adding “Bulgaria”, “Croatia”, “Hong Kong”, and “Taiwan” and omitting “Balearic Islands” and “British Virgin Islands”.

Regulation 7 makes amendments to Schedule 4 of the International Travel Regulations to introduce a new exempt category for fully vaccinated arrivals from amber list countries. A person who is in this category is exempt from the requirement to self-isolate that would otherwise apply and from the requirement to undertake a day 8 test post-arrival.

In order to avail of the exemption, the person in question must have proof of their exemption status and must make the appropriate declaration on their Passenger Locator Form. (The Passenger Locator Form contains passenger information and must be completed and produced if so required by the principal Regulations.)

Regulation 8 amends Schedule 6 of the International Travel Regulations as a consequence of the introduction of the new exemption.

These Regulations also amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (“the Passenger Information Regulations”).

Regulation 10 imposes obligations on travel operators to check the evidence held by travellers claiming fully vaccinated exempt status to have systems and processes, and regulation 11 makes provision for the offences applicable in case of breaches of those obligations.

Regulation 12 amends the Schedule to the Passenger Information Regulations as a consequence of the fully vaccinated exemption, where they will be exempt from the requirement to self-isolate and undertake a day 8 test post-arrival.

No impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.