The government has confirmed its current covid travel system is being overhauled with the amber list scrapped.
The review into the traffic light system was announced today and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps detailed how the restrictions are set to be relaxed into a simpler form.
Grant Shapps confirmed the news in a series of tweets - and said testing was being "made easier" from October 4, while current requirements for post-arrival PCR tests would be replaced by lateral flow tests later in October.
READ MORE: International travel set for major shake up with new rules for unvaccinated
Meanwhile, the traffic light system of countries on green, amber and red lists is being replaced with a single red list, simplifying rules on travel for non-red list countries.
Eight countries, including Turkey, Pakistan and the Maldives, are being removed from the red list from 4am on Wednesday September 22.
He tweeted : "TRAVEL UPDATE: we're making testing easier for travel From Mon 4 Oct, if you're fully vax you won't need a pre-departure test before arrival into England from a non-red country and from later in Oct, will be able to replace the day 2 PCR test with a cheaper lateral flow."
He continued: "In addition, EIGHT countries and territories will come off the red list from Weds 22 Sept at 4am, incl. TURKEY, PAKISTAN and MALDIVES.
"We'll also be introducing a new simplified system for international travel from Mon 4 Oct , replacing the current approach with a single red list and simplified measures for the rest of the world - striking the right balance to manage the public health risk as No.1 priority."
The widely expected move comes amid intense pressure from the travel industry to relax restrictions after another summer hit by coronavirus controls.
In a statement, Mr Shapps said: "Today's changes mean a simpler, more straightforward system. One with less testing and lower costs, allowing more people to travel, see loved ones or conduct business around the world while providing a boost for the travel industry.
" Public health has always been at the heart of our international travel policy and with more than eight in 10 adults fully vaccinated in the UK, we are now able to introduce a proportionate updated structure that reflects the new landscape."
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