Public committee to examine the government’s regulations on quarantine

The Government has appointed a committee to make an experience analysis of the government’s quarantine regulations. Oslo University professor Inge Lorange Backer will chair the committee. 

- Regulations concerning quarantine in the state sector must have broad political approval. The set of regulations must be robust and time-resistant. There are a number of difficult questions to be assessed by the committee. I am looking forward to the conclusions of the committee and their evaluations, Minister Rigmor Aasrud says.

The committee’s mandate is to evaluate the quarantine regulations in the state sector, consisting of three sets of regulations. The regulations were implemented in 2005. The committee will examine the experiences concerning quarantine and case injunction. It is also going to consider whether the regulations have had the intended effects, and see if there is a need for changes in the regulations.

- The quarantine regulations are standing in an area of conflicting interests. It is important for the confidence in the government and may be of great importance for those concerned. I am looking forward to the task of evaluating the regulations in a broadly composed committee, the committee’s chairman, Inge Lorange Backer says.

Mr. Backer is professor at the Institute of Public Law at the University of Oslo. He is joined by ten committee members. Seven of those are representing each of the political parties represented at the Storting. Emphasis has been on securing a broad political and professional composition of the committee, providing a good balance between politics and academics, law and social science expertise.

These are the members of the committee: 
1. Professor Inge Lorange Backer (chairman), Oslo
2. Professor Øyvind Østerud, Oslo
3. Attorney Eli Aasheim, Oslo
4. Professor Kjell Arne Røvik, Tromsø
5. Executive director Lars Erik Flatø (Labour party), Oslo
6. Educational director Åge Rosnes (Socialist Left party), Askøy
7. Head master Inger Enger (Center party), Gausdal
8. Director Gunnar Kvassheim (Liberal party), Egersund
9. Pensioner Åse Gunhild Woie Duesund (Christian Democratic party), Grimstad
10. Board member Thorhild Widvey (Conservative party), Oslo
11. City commissioner Liv Røssland (Progress party), Bergen

The committee is going to present its report by 30 June 2012.