The Department of Health has made a Statutory Rule entitled "The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel, Operator Liability and Information to Passengers) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2022", (S.R. 2022 No. 043), which came into operation at 4.00 am on 11 February 2022, except for regulation 5(a) which comes into operation at 4.00 am on 16 February 2022, and regulations 10(3) and (5) which come into operation at 4.00 am on 28 February 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 extends the time for passengers to complete their Passenger Locator Form from 2 days to 3 days; regulations 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.

The Operator Liability Regulations are amended as follows: 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; and 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.

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