The Department of Health has made a Statutory Rule entitled "The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 9) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021", (S.R. 2020 No. 301), which came into operation at 4.00 am on 22 November 2021.

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

The principal Regulations are amended as follows: regulation 3 amends regulation 2 (Interpretation) to include definitions for “EU Digital COVID Certificate”, “European microstate” and “North American Certificate”; regulation 4 amends regulation 3 (Interpretation: red list and non-red list countries and arrivals) to clarify that a reference to a country does not include a reference to the overseas territories and dependencies of that country unless otherwise stated; regulation 5 amends regulation 6 (Requirement to possess notification of a negative test result) to make a typographical correction, regulations 6 and 7 amend regulation 10 (Requirement to self-isolate) and regulation 11 (Limitations to, and exceptions from, requirement to self-isolate) to remove the provisions for a child under 18 having to self-isolate as this Statutory Rule introduces a policy that all children under the age of 18 are deemed fully vaccinated for the purposes of international travel; regulation 8 amends regulation 19 (Enforcement of requirement to self-isolate) to clarify that enforcement regarding self-isolation for a child only applies when that child has arrived from a red list country.

Regulation 9 amends Schedule 2B (Criteria to be an eligible arrival) to: remove the requirement to provide proof of residency for those vaccinated in the USA or those who have participated, or are participating, in a clinical trial regulated in the USA, and to accept vaccination certificates issued at state level in 3 US states; clarify that all children under 18 are deemed fully vaccinated for the purposes of international travel regardless of their country of residence; define those countries and territories which are approved third countries and territories for the purposes of vaccine certification and the UK vaccine rollout overseas; clarify the status of overseas territories and dependencies of relevant countries; and inserts Belarus, Bolivia, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Montserrat, Mozambique, Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, Samoa, Senegal, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the Island of Cyprus, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Turks and Caicos Islands, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in the list of countries and territories referred to in paragraph 12 of that Schedule.

Regulation 10 amends Part 1 of Schedule 4 (Persons who are exempt) to clarify that "Seamen and masters", "Pilots (maritime)", "Ship inspectors" and "Air crew" do not need to complete a passenger locator form regardless of the country they have arrived from; clarifies that "Road haulage workers" are exempt from completing a passenger location form; simplifies the exemptions from the requirement to self-isolate applying to certain categories of transport and border workers; and amends Part 2 of Schedule 4 for Diplomats to clarify requirements in relation to self-isolation and managed isolation.; amends the condition that applies to the exemption from the requirement to provide information (regulation 4) in respect of transit passengers to provide that they do not need to complete a passenger locator form so long as they remain "airside" and do not pass through immigration control.

The Operator Liability Regulations are amended as follows: regulation 12 amends regulation 2 (Interpretation) to make a typographical correction; and regulation 13 amends regulation 4A (Requirement to check vaccination status) to make consequential amendments as a result of the amendments relating to providing proof of residency for those vaccinated in the USA or those who have participated, or are participating, in a clinical trial regulated in the United States of America.

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