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            COMMISSION DECISION         

of 29 November 2004         

on protection measures with regard to imports of equidae from Romania

(notified under document number C(2004) 4440)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2004/825/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC (1), and in particular Article 18(7) thereof,

Whereas:

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1.   Member States shall prohibit importation of equidae originating in or coming from Romania, unless otherwise provided for in this Decision.

2.   The prohibition referred to in paragraph 1 shall not apply to:

Article 2

Member States of final destination shall authorise imports from Romania of equidae for direct slaughter under the following conditions:

Article 3

Member States of final destination shall authorise imports from Romania of equidae for breeding and production under the following conditions:

Article 4

1.   Member States carrying out the checks provided for in Article 4 of Directive 91/496/EEC upon introduction into the Community shall not refuse entry on Community territory:

2.   The competent authority of the Member State responsible for the checks upon introduction of equidae into the Community shall provide to the Commission at the latest on 25th of each month a report in accordance with the format of Annex IV for each entry point concerned which shall cover the checks carried out during the preceding month and the measures taken to remedy detected animal health and welfare shortcomings.

Article 5

1.   The competent authority in the Member State of destination of equidae referred to in Articles 2 and 3 shall ensure that:

2.   The competent authority in the Member State of destination shall carry out the following measures upon arrival at the slaughterhouse or during the period of residence on the holding of destination referred to in paragraph 1(c):

3.   The competent authority responsible for the checks in slaughterhouses shall provide to the Commission at the latest on 25 of each month a report in accordance with the format in Annex V which shall cover the checks carried out during the preceding month and the measures taken to remedy detected animal health and welfare shortcomings.

Article 6

Member States shall take the necessary measures, including where necessary legal provisions, to ensure that the costs of the administrative procedures, including any necessary laboratory testing, related to imports of equidae from Romania in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of this Decision are fully borne by the importer.

Article 7

This Decision shall apply from 23 December 2004.

Article 8

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 29 November 2004.

For the Commission

David BYRNE            

Member of the Commission

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(1)OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. Directive as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession.

(2)OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 42. Directive as last amended by Directive 2004/68/EC (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 320). Corrigendum to the Directive (OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 128).

(3)OJ L 73, 11.3.2004, p. 1.

(4)OJ L 130, 15.5.1992, p. 67. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/241/EC (OJ L 74, 12.3.2004, p. 19).

(5)OJ L 86, 6.4.1993, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/211/EC (OJ L 73, 11.3.2004, p. 1).

(6)OJ L 86, 6.4.1993, p. 7. Decision as last amended by the 2003 Act of Accession.

(7)OJ L 86, 6.4.1993, p. 16. Decision as last amended by Decision 2004/241/EC (OJ L 74, 12.3.2004, p. 19).

(8)OJ L 190, 26.7.1994, p. 28. Decision as last amended by Decision 2001/662/EC (OJ L 232, 30.8.2001, p. 28).

(9)OJ L 23, 28.1.2000, p. 72.

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ANNEX I
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1. Consignor (name and address in full)VETERINARY CERTIFICATE for equidae (1) for slaughter from Romania consigned directly to a slaughterhouse in the European Community No (2) ORIGINAL3. Origin of the animals (3)2. Consignee (name and address in full)3.1. Country:3.2. Code of territory:4. Competent Authority4.1. Ministry:4.2. Service:5. Intended destination of the animals5.1. EU Member State:4.3. Local/Regional level:5.2. Name, address and registration number of the slaughterhouse:6. Establishment(s) and place of loading for exportation (name and address of the establishment(s))7. Means of transport and consignment identification (4)6.1. Holding(s) (5)7.1. Lorry (5), or Rail-wagon (5)7.2. Registration number(s):7.3. Consignment identification details (5):6.2. Approved isolation centre (5)8. Identification of the animals8.1. Animal species and/or cross-breeds:8.2. The corresponding identification documents are attached to this certificate.8.3. The animals are marked with a hot-branded ‘S’ of at least 3 cm size on the left front leg hoof.8.4. Individual identification of the animals included in this consignment:Number of the electronic identifier (6)Sex (7)8.5. Total number of animals:
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9. Animal health attestation — disease situation in country, area and holding I, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby certify, that the animals described above meet the following requirements:9.1. they are not animals to be destroyed under a national programme of infectious or contagious diseases eradication;9.2. they come from ROMANIA, where the following diseases are compulsorily notifiable: African horse sickness, dourine, glanders, equine encephalomyelitis (of all types including Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis), equine infectious anaemia, vesicular stomatitis, rabies and anthrax;9.3. they come from the territory with code RO-0 which, at the date of issuing this certificate: (a) is considered free from African horse sickness in accordance with EC legislation; (b) has been free for 24 months from Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis; (c) has been free for 6 months from dourine, glanders and vesicular stomatitis;9.4. they come from holdings(5) either [which have been free from any official prohibition on health grounds:(a) for the past 15 days in the case of anthrax; (b) for the past 30 days in the case of rabies; (c) for the past 6 months in the case of equine encephalomyelitis, beginning on the day on which the last equidae suffering from the disease was slaughtered; (d) in the case of equine infectious anaemia, until the date on which, the infected animals having been slaughtered, the remaining animals have shown a negative reaction to two Coggins tests carried out three months apart;](5) or [on which, in the event of a notifiable infectious or contagious disease mentioned in 9.1, all the animals of susceptible species have been slaughtered, the premises disinfected and which remained unoccupied by animals susceptible to the disease during a period of 30 days or 15 days in the case of anthrax.]10. Animal health attestation — Health tests (8) and vaccination10.1. during the isolation period specified in point 11.3 each of the animals described in point 8.4 was subjected to the following health tests carried out in a laboratory approved by the competent authority in Romania and by the competent authority in the Member State of destination on a blood sample taken within 10 days of export on (date): (a) a Coggins test for equine infectious anaemia with negative result; (b) a complement fixation test for glanders with negative result at a dilution of 1 in 10;10.2. the animals(5) either [were not vaccinated against African horse sickness;](5) or [were vaccinated against African horse sickness on (dates).]11. Animal health attestation — Residence, contacts, quarantine and examination11.1. the animals have remained in the territory described under point 9.3 in holdings under veterinary supervision during at least 90 days immediately preceding the exportation, or since birth if younger than 90 days of age, or since entry if they were imported directly from the European Community during the previous 90 days;11.2. as far as can be ascertained, during the past 15 days prior to pre-export isolation they have not been in contact with animals from holdings which did not satisfy the conditions in point 9.4;11.3. during the last 30 days prior to export they have been isolated from equidae not of the same health status and from equidae imported into Romania from other third countries;11.4. they were examined by an official veterinarian within less than 24 hours of loading and showed: (a) no clinical sign of other infectious or contagious diseases;(b) no obvious signs of ectoparasitic infestation;(c) no obvious signs of diseases that impair their fitness for the intended transport.
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12. Animal transport attestationI, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby certify, that the animals described above (a) have been treated before and at the time of loading in accordance with the relevant provisions of Council Directive 91/628/EEC, in particular as regards watering and feeding; and(b) appeared to be fit for the intended transport at the time of loading.13. The certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue. The attached declaration signed by the owner (5) or representative of the owner (5) of the animals is part of this certificate.14. Public Health attestation I, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby certify, that the animals described in point 8 of this certificate have not received : any stilbene or thyreostatic substances, oestrogenic, androgenic or gestagenic substances for purposes other than therapeutic or zootechnical treatment.15. Official stamp and signatureDone at on(signature of official veterinarian)(stamp)(name in capital letters, qualifications and title)16. Endorsement by central competent authority:The above certificate has been verified and endorsed by the central competent authority in Romania.Done at on(signature of central competent authority)(stamp)(name in capital letters, qualifications and title)
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Indicative notes(1) Animals of the species Equus caballus, Equus asinus and their cross-breeds intended for slaughter. Animals shall be slaughtered within 72 hours after arrival at the slaughterhouse and not more than five days after arrival in the Community.(2) Issued by the competent authority.(3) Country and code of territory as appearing in Annex I to Commission Decision 2004/211/EC (as last amended).(4) The registration number(s) of rail-wagon or lorry should be given as appropriate.(5) Delete as appropriate.(6) Each animal is marked with an injectable electronic identifier (transponder) complying with the ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 standards, is identified and accompanied by the identification document set up in Annex II to Decision 2004/.../EC stating the number of the electronic identifier and indicating its implantation place.(7) Sex (M = male, F = female, C = castrated).(8) Laboratory tests have been carried out by a laboratory approved by the Member State of destination on samples clearly identified with a reference to the number of the electronic identifier referred to in (6). The test results certified by the laboratory shall be attached to the animal health certificate accompanying the animals.DECLARATIONNo of corresponding certificate:I, the undersigned, (insert name in block letters), owner/representative of the owner (delete as appropriate) of the animals declare:(1) the animals will be sent from the holding described in the certificate directly to the premises of destination, without passing through a market, marshalling or assembly centre;(2) the transportation will be effected in such a way that the health and wellbeing of the animals can be protected effectively and that the animals do not come in contact with equidae not accompanied by an animal health certificate as required for importation into the European Community;(3) the animals have remained in Romania since birth or for at least 90 days prior to this declaration.(Place and date)(Signature)

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ANNEX II

IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT
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Numéro du transpondeur — Number of electronic identifierRace — BreedSexe — SexRobe — ColourSignalement: Description:Circonscription — District:Tête: Head:Le — On:Ant. G: Foreleg L:Signature et cachet du vétérinaire agréé (ou de l’autorité compétente) Signature and stamp of qualified veterinary surgeon (or competent authority) (en lettres capitales) (in capital letters)Ant. D: Foreleg R:Post G: Hindleg L:Post D: Hindleg R:Corps: Body:Marques: Markings:

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ANNEX III
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1. Consignor (name and address in full)VETERINARY CERTIFICATE for equidae (1) for breeding and production from Romania consigned to the European Community No (2) ORIGINAL3. Origin of the animal (3)2. Consignee (name and address in full)3.1. Country:3.2. Code of territory:4. Competent Authority4.1. Ministry:4.2. Service:5. Intended destination of the animal5.1. EU Member State:4.3. Local/Regional level:5.2. Name, address and registration number of the holding:6. Establishment(s) and place of loading for exportation (name and address of the establishment(s))7. Means of transport and consignment identification (4)6.1. Holding:7.1. Lorry (5), Rail-wagon (5)7.2. Registration number(s),:7.3. Consignment identification details (5):6.2. Approved isolation centre (5)8. Identification of the animal8.1. Animal species and/or cross-breed:8.2. The corresponding identification document accompanying the animal is attached to this certificate.8.3. Individual identification of the animal included in this consignment (6)Official identification numbers (6)Age and Sex (7)9. Animal health attestation — disease situation in country, area and holding I, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby certify, that the animal described above meet the following requirements:9.1. it is not an animal to be destroyed under a national programme for infectious or contagious diseases eradication;9.2. it comes from ROMANIA, where the following diseases are compulsorily notifiable: African horse sickness, dourine, glanders, equine encephalomyelitis (of all types including Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis), equine infectious anaemia, vesicular stomatitis, rabies and anthrax;9.3. it comes from the territory with code RO-0 (3) which, at the date of issuing this certificate: (a) is considered free from African horse sickness in accordance with EC legislation; (b) has been free for 24 months from Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis; (c) has been free for six months from dourine, glanders and vesicular stomatitis;
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9.4. it comes from a holding(5) either [ which has been free from any official prohibition on health grounds:(a) for the past 15 days in the case of anthrax; (b) for the past 30 days in the case of rabies; (c) for the past six months in the case of equine encephalomyelitis, beginning on the day on which the last equidae suffering from the disease was slaughtered; (d) in the case of equine infectious anaemia, until the date on which, the infected animals having been slaughtered, the remaining animals have shown a negative reaction to two Coggins tests carried out three months apart;(5) or [on which, in the event of a notifiable infectious or contagious disease mentioned in point 9.2, all the animals of susceptible species have been slaughtered, the premises disinfected and which remained unoccupied by animals susceptible to the disease during a period of 30 days or 15 days in the case of anthrax;]and where there was no suspicion of contagious equine metritis (CEM) reported to the competent authorities during the past two months.10. Animal health attestation — Health tests (8) and vaccination10.1. during the isolation period specified in point 11.3 the animal was subjected to the following health tests carried out in a laboratory approved by the competent authority in Romania and by the competent authority in the Member State of destination: (a) a Coggins test for equine infectious anaemia with negative result on a blood sample taken within 10 days of export on (date) (10); (b) a complement fixation test for glanders with negative result at a dilution of 1 in 10 on a blood sample taken within 10 days of export on (date) (10); and (c) a complement fixation test for dourine (Trypanosoma equiperdum), with negative result at a dilution of 1 in 10 on a blood sample taken within 10 days of export on (date) (10); (5) (9) it is an uncastrated male equine animal older than 180 days and(5) either [(d) is certified on the territory of a country in which equine viral arteritis (EVA) has not been officially recorded during the last 6 months;](5) or [(d) was tested on a blood sample taken within 21 days of export on (date) by virus neutralisation test for equine viral arteritis (EVA) with negative result at a dilution of 1 in 4;](5) or [(d) was tested on an aliquot of its entire semen taken within 21 days of export on (date) by virus isolation test for equine viral arteritis (EVA) with negative results;](5) or [(d) was vaccinated on (date) against equine viral arteritis (EVA) under official veterinary supervision, and re-vaccinated at regular intervals, with a vaccine approved by the competent authority, and the initial vaccination was carried out(5) either [(i) on the day a blood sample was taken that subsequently proved negative in a virus neutralisation test for EVA at a dilution of 1 in 4] ] ](5) or [(ii) during a period of isolation of not more than 15 days under official veterinary supervision, commencing on the day a blood sample was taken that was tested during that time with negative result in a virus neutralisation test for EVA at a dilution of 1:4] ] ](5) or [(iii) when the animal was at an age of 180 to 270 days, during a period of isolation under official veterinary supervision, and during the isolation period, two blood samples taken at least 10 days apart proved a stable or declining antibody titre in a virus neutralisation test for EVA.] ] ]10.2. the animal(5) either was not vaccinated against African horse sickness;](5) or vaccinated against African horse sickness on (dates).]11. Animal health attestation — Residence, contact, quarantine and examination11.1. the animal has remained in the territory described under point 9.3 in holdings under veterinary supervision during at least 90 days immediately preceding the exportation, or since birth if less than 90 days of age, or since entry if it was imported directly from the European Community during the previous 90 days;
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11.2. as far as can be ascertained, during the past 15 days prior to pre-export isolation it has not been in contact with animals from holdings which did not satisfy the conditions in point 9.4;and during the past two months prior to export isolation it had no contact indirectly or directly through coitus with equidae infected or suspected of contagious equine metritis (CEM);11.3. for at least 30 days prior to dispatch for exportation it was isolated on the holding described under point 6.1 from equidae not of the same health status and from equidae imported into this territory from a third country;11.4. the animal was examined by an official veterinarian within less than 24 hours of loading and showed: (a) no clinical sign of contagious equine metritis (CEM); (b) no clinical sign of other infectious or contagious diseases; (c) no obvious signs of ectoparasitic infestation; (d) no obvious signs of diseases that impair its fitness for the intended transport.12. Animal transport attestation12.1. I, the undersigned official veterinarian, hereby certify, that the animal described above (a) has been treated before certification in accordance with the relevant provisions of Council Directive 91/628/EEC, in particular as regards watering and feeding;and (b) appeared to be fit for the intended transport at the time of examination;12.2. I have ascertained that arrangements have been made: (a) to load the animal for dispatch to the European Community within less than 24 hours following examination; (b) to protect it from any contact with other equidae not complying with at least the same health requirements as described in this certificate; (c) to load the animal in the means of transport described under point 7 above that were cleaned and disinfected before loading with an officially authorised disinfectant and so constructed that faeces, urine, litter or fodder could not escape during transportation; (d) to transport the animal from the holding described in point 6.1 directly to the Member State of destination, without passing through a market, marshalling or assembly centre.13. The certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue. The attached declaration of the owner of representative of the owner of the animal is part of this certificate.14. Official stamp and signatureDone at on(signature of official veterinarian)(stamp)(name in capital letters, qualifications and title)15. Endorsement by central competent authority:The above certificate has been verified and endorsed by the central competent authority in Romania.Done at on(signature of central competent authority)(stamp)(name in capital letters, qualifications and title)
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Indicative notes(1) Animal of the species Equus caballus, Equus asinus and their cross-breeds intended for breeding or production. After importation the animal must be conveyed without delay to the holding of destination where they shall remain for a minimum period of 30 days before further movement outside the holding, except in the case of a dispatch to a slaughterhouse.(2) Issued by the competent authority.(3) Country and code of territory as appearing in Annex I to Commission Decision 2004/211/EC (as last amended).(4) The registration number(s) of rail-wagon or lorry should be given as appropriate.(5) Delete as appropriate.(6) The animal must be marked with an injectable electronic identifier (transponder) complying with the ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 standards, and must be identified and accompanied by the identification document set up in Annex II to Decision 2004/.../EC stating the number of the electronic identifier and indicating its implantation place. If a passport accompanies the animal, it should be stated the number of the passport and the name of the competent authority which validated it.(7) Age ( months ) Sex (M = male, F = female, C = castrated).(8) Tests carried out in the animal before dispatch for exportation and the date ( dd/mm/yy ) in which the samples were taken. Laboratory tests must have been carried out by a laboratory approved by the Member State of destination on samples clearly identified with a reference to the number of the electronic identifier referred to in (6). The test results certified by the laboratory shall be attached to the animal health certificate accompanying the animal.(9) Only in the case of uncastrated males older than 180 days, from a territory that has not been free for six months from equine viral arteritis (EVA).(10) Date of loading. Imports of this animal shall not be allowed when the animal was loaded either prior to the date of authorisation for exportation to the European Community of the territory mentioned under (3), or during a period where restrictive measures have been adopted by the European Community against imports of these animals from this territory.DECLARATIONNo of corresponding certificate:I, the undersigned, (insert name in block letters), owner /representative of the owner (delete as appropriate) of the animal declare:(1) the animal will be loaded within less than 24 hours following inspection and sent directly from the premises of dispatch to the premises of destination, without passing through a market, marshalling or assembly centre;(2) the transportation will be effected in such a way that the health and wellbeing of the animal can be protected effectively and that the animal does not come in contact with equidae not accompanied by an animal health certificate as required for importation into the European Community;(3) the animal has remained in Romania since birth or for at least 90 days prior to this declaration.(Place and date)(Signature)

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ANNEX IV

Report of border inspection posts as referred to in Article 4(2)

Member State: ...

Name of border inspection post: ...

Year: ... Month: ...

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ANNEX V

Report of Member States as referred to in Article 5(3)

Member State: ...

Year: ... Month: ...

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(*1)  This number corresponds to the number of horses declared to be sent to the Member States of destination through the TRACE or ANIMO system.

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