The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022

Made: 11th February 2022

Coming into operation in accordance with regulation 1

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PART 1 — Introduction

Citation and commencement

1

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Interpretation

2

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PART 2

Amendment of the Principal Regulations

Amendment of the principal Regulations

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Extension of time for requirement to provide passenger information

4

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Amendment of requirement to provide passenger information

5

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Removal of requirement for eligible non-red list arrival to book and undertake tests

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Relaxation of requirement for eligible non-red list arrival to book and undertake tests

7

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Removal of requirement for non-eligible non-red list arrival to self-isolate

8

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Relaxation of requirements for workforce testing

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Updates to relevant countries lists for eligible arrivals

10

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PART 3

Amendment of the Operator Liability Regulations

Amendment of the Operator Liability Regulations

11

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Requirement to implement and maintain systems and processes

12

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Fixed penalty notices

13

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Simplification of requirement to provide information to passengers

14

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Records and information

15

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PART 4 — Final

Correction of errors in previous Regulations

16

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Transitional provisions

17

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Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 11th February 2022

Dr Lourda Geoghegan — A senior officer of the Department of Health

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations amend The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (the principal regulations) and The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (the Operator Liability Regulations).

Part 2 amends the principal Regulations.

Regulation 4 extends the time for passengers to complete their Passenger Locator Form from 2 days to 3 days.

Regulation 5 amends the information to be included in the Passenger Locator Form.

Regulation 6 removes the requirement for a fully vaccinated person (an eligible non-red list arrival) to book and undertake tests upon arrival in Northern Ireland.

Regulation 7 relaxes the requirement for an unvaccinated person (a non-eligible non-red list arrival) to book and undertake tests upon arrival in Northern Ireland. Rather than a day 2 and day 8 test, only a day 2 test is required. Rather than a legal obligation to self-isolate, the Department may now issue guidance on self-isolation if a test result is positive.

Regulation 8 removes the requirement for an unvaccinated person to self-isolate upon arrival.

Regulation 9 relaxes the requirements for workforce testing so that a test must only be taken on day 2 now.

Regulation 10 updates the list of countries whose vaccinations are recognised and the way in which those vaccinations are treated.

Part 3 amends the Operator Liability Regulations.

Regulation 12 introduces a new requirement upon operators of transport services to implement and maintain systems to ensure that passengers comply with the various travel rules. Rather than being fined for individual breaches by passengers of these rules, the operator is now only fined if they don’t have proper systems in place.

Regulation 13 introduces a fixed penalty notice procedure for offences under the Operator Liability Regulations. This aligns with the procedure with the principal Regulations and allows for a fixed penalty notice to be issued rather than every case having to be dealt with in a court. A person can always elect to have the matter dealt with by a court. This regulation sets out the detailed procedures involved if a fixed penalty notice is challenged etc.

Regulation 14 simplifies the requirement for operators to provide information to passengers travelling to Northern Ireland. There are less different types of information to be provided at different times, and there is greater uniformity between the different ways that information may be provided.

Regulation 15 requires operators to keep records of how they have complied with their obligation to give information to passengers.

Regulation 16 corrects minor typographical and cross-referencing errors in previous Regulations.

Regulation 17 is a transitional provision which allows arrivals to be released from isolation early if their country of origin is now regarded as being safe in terms of vaccinations.

No impact assessment has been prepared for these Regulations.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), s. 1(5).

[^f00002]: 1967 c. 36 (N.I.). Part 1A was inserted by section 48 of, and Schedule 18 to, the Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7)

[^f00003]: S.R. 2021 No. 99 as amended by S.R. 2021 Nos. 108, 121, 132, 154, 189, 213, 214, 218, 225, 230, 241, 262, 278, 282, 284, 293, 301, 312, 313, 316, 322, 323, 340, 343 and S.R. 2022 No. 3

[^f00004]: S.R. 2021 No. 102 as amended by S.R. 2021 Nos. 189, 213, 214, 225, 230, 262, 278, 282, 301, 316, 323 and S.R. 2022 No. 3

[^f00005]: S.R 2022 No. 3

Editorial notes

[^key-a3cad8b0da0b4e9ce82f7d8334d02358]: Regulations revoked (18.3.2022 at 4.00 a.m.) by The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Revocation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022 (S.R. 2022/122), reg. 1(2), Sch.