EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/574 (W. 132)) (the “International Travel Regulations”). The International Travel Regulations have been previously amended by:
- the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Public Health Information for Persons Travelling to Wales etc.) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/595) (W. 136);
- the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Public Health Information to Travellers) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/714) (W. 160);
- the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/726) (W. 163);
- the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/804) (W. 177);
- the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/817) (W. 179);
- the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/840) (W. 185);
- the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) (Wales) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/868) (W. 190).
The International Travel Regulations impose requirements on persons entering Wales after having been abroad. They include a requirement for persons arriving in Wales to isolate for a period determined in accordance with the Regulations. The requirements imposed by the International Travel Regulations are subject to exceptions, and certain categories of person are exempt from having to comply. Persons entering Wales after being in one or more of the countries and territories listed in Schedule 3 to the International Travel Regulations are not required to isolate. The countries and territories listed in Schedule 3 are referred to as “exempt countries and territories”.
Part 2 of these Regulations amends the list of exempt countries and territories.
Regulation 2 of these Regulations amends the International Travel Regulations to add Portugal to the list of exempt countries and territories.
Regulation 4 of these Regulations amends the International Travel Regulations to remove Austria, Croatia and Trinidad and Tobago from the list of exempt countries and territories.
Regulations 3 and 5 of these Regulations makes transitional provision relating to these countries’ change of status. The transitional provision addresses a potential area of doubt in terms of the effect on the operation of the International Travel Regulations, of the amendments made by regulations 2 and 4 of these Regulations.
Part 3 of these Regulations makes various miscellaneous amendments to the International Travel Regulations.
Regulations 6 and 7 makes consequential amendments to regulations 9 and 10 of the International Travel Regulations as a result of regulation 8 of these Regulations.
Regulation 8 of these Regulations makes various amendments to Schedule 2 to the International Travel Regulations in respect of the exemptions for certain categories of workers. It firstly widens the definition of an inspector or surveyor of ships to include those part of a government of a relevant British possession. Further regulation 8 includes a new exemption to the isolation requirements in respect of elite athletes resident in the UK upon returning from an elite competition.
Regulation 9 of these Regulations adds further events and fixtures to the list of sporting events in Schedule 4 to the International Travel Regulations.
Regulation 9 also corrects an error identified in the Welsh language text of the International Travel Regulations.
The Welsh Ministers’ Code of Practice on the carrying out of Regulatory Impact Assessments was considered in relation to these Regulations. As a result, a regulatory impact assessment has not been prepared as to the likely cost and benefit of complying with these Regulations.