At the moment, corona measures are hardly possible. Kuijpers has asked the Senate to speed up a legislative amendment. The European Union advised yesterday to take further measures, including testing all travellers. Member States are free to adopt the opinion or not. Kuipers sought advice not only from the WTO, but also from the new Social Impact Team (MIT) and a number of government organizations including the police and the inspectorate. There is also a consultation with the aviation sector.
Measures
Most countries in the Netherlands have already announced stricter rules for people from China. Belgium and Germany want to see a negative corona test from travellers, which the European Union had recommended in combination with, among other things, masks on flights and random tests after arrival. Countries outside the EU also have stricter rules, including the UK and the US.
Legislation
Kuipers already warned last Friday that the Netherlands cannot currently legally require negative corona tests from travelers from China. The temporary legislation, on which the previous corona measures were based, has not come into force since May. A legislative amendment is currently being drafted, which will need to provide a legal basis through a different route. The House of Representatives agreed to this two weeks ago, but the Senate has yet to discuss it. Minister Kuipers asked the Senate on Thursday to consider the proposal “as soon as possible, preferably in the week of January 9”.
Senate members will debate tomorrow whether they consider the issue urgent enough to return from recess. If it is decided to do so, the amendment to the law on public health can be discussed next week. For now, the next discussion of the proposal in three commissions is scheduled for January 17, after which the law will also have to be discussed in plenary.
Aviation
The aviation industry is disappointed with joint advice from EU member states to make a negative corona test mandatory for travelers from China. Two aviation industry associations (A4E and IATA) and airport umbrella organization ACI Europe argue that this recommendation contradicts the assessment by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). That body has indicated that the corona wave in China will not affect the situation in Europe.
Airlines and airports prefer to see if new variants emerge through wastewater tests at airports and on aircraft from China. They would like to participate in such tests, but the tests themselves will be carried out by health services, such as the GGD in the Netherlands.