The Department of Health has made a Statutory Rule entitled "The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 7) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021", (S.R. 2021 No. 278) which came into operation at 4.00 am on 4 October 2021, except regulation 13 which came into operation at 4.00 am on 25 October 2021.

This rule amends the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021 No.99) and the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021 No. 102).

It creates a new category of traveller known as an “eligible arrival” who if fully vaccinated and arriving in Northern Ireland from a list of specified countries, is exempt from the need to comply with the obligation to have proof of a negative test on arrival, to take a “day 8 test” or to self-isolate.

The Rule makes amendments to the existing categories of travellers as a consequence of the new framework on non-eligible and eligible non-red list arrivals.

An amendment is made to the nature of the medical evidence that travellers from red list countries and territories must provide if they seek exemption from the obligation to quarantine in designated accommodation.

The Rule relieves operators of the obligation to check evidence of vaccination where a traveller's Passenger Locator Form has had appropriate evidence uploaded to it, and which states that the evidence has been verified.

Changes are made to the information that operators must give to passengers, reflecting the changes made by these Regulations.

The other provisions of these Regulations make minor and consequential amendments.

The rule may be purchased from the Stationery office at www.tsoshop.co.uk or by contacting TSO Customer Services on 0333 202 5070, or viewed online at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr