The Department of Health has made a Statutory Rule entitled "The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022", (S.R. 2022 No. 003), which came into operation at 4.00 am on 07 January 2022, except for regulations 5 and 6 which come into operation at 4.00 am on 09 January 2022, and regulation 9 which comes into operation at 4.00 am on 10 January 2022.

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 4 removes the requirement for eligible (deemed fully vaccinated) non-red list arrivals to have a negative pre-departure test result before they arrive in Northern Ireland; regulations 5 and 6 change the rules on booking a Covid test for eligible non-red list arrivals, they must have booked a Day 2 test but that test can be a lateral flow device (LFD) test. If that test is negative then there are no further restrictions, however if the test is positive or inconclusive, then they must self-isolate for 10 days. If the test is positive, they must also take a further PCR test. If the test is inconclusive, they may take a further PCR test. If the further PCR test is negative, they can leave self-isolation with no further restrictions. Regulation 7 supplements the enforcement and information sharing regime to ensure that there are powers to deal with those who do not comply with these rule changes; regulation 8 changes the rules on self-isolation for eligible non-red list arrivals. There is no obligation to self-isolate upon arrival, however this is subject to the rules in regulations 5 and 6 regarding what happens if they get a positive result from their Day 2 test. Regulation 9 updates the list of recognised vaccines and adds Bhutan, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus (northern), Fiji, Iraq, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Solomon Islands, The Gambia and Uzbekistan to the list of recognised countries.

The Operator Liability Regulations are amended as follows: regulation 10 updates the information that must be given to passengers travelling to Northern Ireland.

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