EN Official Journal of the European Union L 271/9

COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2016/1775

of 4 October 2016

amending Decision 93/195/EEC by adding Qatar to the list of third countries from which Member States authorise the re-entry into Union territory of registered horses which have been temporarily exported for a period of less than 90 days to take part in International Group/Grade meetings

(notified under document C(2016) 6270)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 2009/156/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing the movement and importation from third countries of equidae (1), and in particular Article 12(1) and (4), Article 16(2) and points (a) and (b) of Article 19 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Directive 2009/156/EC lays down animal health conditions for the introduction of live equidae into the Union. It empowers the Commission to specify the special animal health conditions that apply when registered equidae re-enter the Union after being temporarily exported for special uses.

(2) Commission Decision 2004/211/EC (2) establishes a list of third countries and parts of territories thereof from which Member States authorise the re-entry of registered horses following their temporary exportation, and assigns those countries to specific sanitary groups of countries.

(3) Commission Decision 93/195/EEC (3) establishes the animal health and veterinary certification conditions for the re-entry of registered horses after temporary export to third countries listed for that purpose in Decision 2004/211/EC. For the purpose of allowing the consecutive participation of registered horses in International Group/Grade meetings in third countries assigned to different sanitary groups, Annex VIII to Decision 93/195/EEC sets out the health certificate for the re-entry of registered horses after their temporary export for a period of less than 90 days that have taken part in International Group/Grade meetings in Australia, Canada, the United States of America, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore or the United Arab Emirates.

(4) Qatar is listed in Annex I to Decision 2004/211/EC for the re-entry of registered horses after temporary export and is assigned to Sanitary Group E in that Annex and in Annex I to Decision 93/195/EEC.

(5) In April 2016, Qatar requested its inclusion in the list of third countries in Annex VIII to Decision 93/195/EEC along with Australia, Canada, United States of America, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates and provided the necessary guarantees ensuring the segregation of registered horses from the Union participating in International Group/Grade meetings from horses of a lower health status.

(6) Decision 93/195/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Decision 93/195/EEC is amended as follows:

(1) the eighth indent of Article 1 is replaced by the following: ‘— have taken part in International Group/Grade meetings in Australia, Canada, the United States of America, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates or Qatar and meet the requirements laid down in a health certificate in accordance with the model set out in Annex VIII to this Decision,’;

(2) Annex VIII is replaced by the text in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 4 October 2016. For the Commission Vytenis ANDRIUKAITIS Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 192, 23.7.2010, p. 1.

(2) Commission Decision 2004/211/EC of 6 January 2004 establishing the list of third countries and parts of territory thereof from which Member States authorise imports of live equidae and semen, ova and embryos of the equine species, and amending Decisions 93/195/EEC and 94/63/EC (OJ L 73, 11.3.2004, p. 1).

(3) Commission Decision 93/195/EEC of 2 February 1993 on animal health conditions and veterinary certification for the re-entry of registered horses for racing, competition and cultural events after temporary export (OJ L 86, 6.4.1993, p. 1).