COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/581

of 27 April 2020

amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 on the conditions for the entry into the Union of live equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(I) to Directive 90/425/EEC (1), and in particular Article 17(3) thereof,

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 (2), and in particular Article 12(1) and (4), Article 13(2), Article 16 and Article 19(b) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 (3) lays down the conditions for entry into the Union of equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae. It sets out the list of third countries from where Member States are to authorise the entry of equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of animals of the equine species, and specifies the animal health and veterinary certification conditions for such entries.

(2) Directive 2009/156/EC lays down the animal health requirements governing imports of equidae into the Union. It provides that imports of equidae into the Union are only authorised from third countries or parts of the territory thereof which have been free from glanders (Burgholderia mallei) for a period of at least six months.

(3) On 25 December 2019, Turkey notified through the Animal Disease Notification System, that a case of glanders was confirmed on 4 December 2019 in a horse on the Büyükada Island, Province of Istanbul, Turkey. The entry into the Union of equidae and of germinal products of equidae from Turkey should be suspended for a period of at least 6 months. It is therefore necessary to amend the entry for Turkey in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659.

(4) A new Show Jumping League has been established in the United Arab Emirates under the auspices of the Fédération Equestre Internationale (‘FEI’) which includes qualifying tests for the Show Jumping World Cup. Based on the animal health guarantees provided by the United Arab Emirates, adding the series of show jumping competitions of the United Arab Emirates International Show Jumping League to the list of events for which the re-entry into the Union after a temporary export of less than 90 days is authorised is justified. It is therefore necessary to amend the model health certificate and the model declaration set out in Chapter 1 of Section B of Part 2 of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659.

(5) Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6) In order to avoid a negative impact on trade, it is necessary to provide for a transitional period until 31 October 2020 during which animal health certificates issued in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659, as amended by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2147 (4), shall be accepted provided they are issued prior to 21 October 2020.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 is amended as follows: (1) In Annex I, the entry for Turkey is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation. (2) In Annex II, Chapter 1 of Section B of Part 2 is replaced by the text set out in Annex II to this Regulation.

Article 2 Until 31 October 2020, Member States shall authorise the re-entry into the Union of registered horses accompanied by the relevant animal health certificate drawn up in accordance with the model health certificate set out in Chapter 1 of Section B of Part 2 of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659, as amended by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2147, provided that the animal health certificate was issued prior to 21 October 2020.

Article 3 This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 27 April 2020. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.

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

(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 of 12 April 2018 on the conditions for the entry into the Union of live equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae (OJ L 110, 30.4.2018, p. 1).

(4) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2147 of 28 November 2019 amending and correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 on the conditions for the entry into the Union of live equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae (OJ L 325, 16.12.2019, p. 99).