Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the non-commercial movement of pet animals
Date: 2012-03-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal disease, domestic animal, health certificate, health control, transport of animals, veterinary inspection

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 5.3.2012  
COM(2012) 89 final 

2012/0039 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the non-commercial movement of pet animals 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

 
 
  
 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

1. 

CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL 

1.1. 

Grounds for and objectives of the proposal 

The  proposal  repeals  and  replaces  Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003  of  the  European 
Parliament and of the Council laying down the animal health requirements applicable 
to  the  non-commercial  movement  of  pet  animals  and  amending  Council  Directive 
92/65/EEC1. 

1.2. 

Legal background 

Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003  was  brought  into  line  with  the  regulatory  procedure 
with  scrutiny  by  Regulation  (EC)  No  219/2009  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of 
the  Council  of  11  March  2009  adapting  a  number  of  instruments  subject  to  the 
procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty to Council Decision 1999/468/EC 
with regard to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny2. 

It was later substantially amended by Regulation (EU) No 438/2010 of the European 
Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  19  May  2010  amending  Regulation  (EC) 
No 998/2003  on  the  animal  health  requirements  applicable  to  the  non-commercial 
movement of pet animals3, in particular to extend the transitional regime provided for 
in Articles 6, 8 and 16 until 31 December 2011. 

It  was  also  partially  brought  into  line  with  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the 
European Union (TFEU).  However, in a  statement annexed to Regulation (EU) No 
438/2010,  the  Commission  undertook  to  propose  a  revision  of  Regulation  (EC)  No 
998/2003 in its entirety, and, in particular, the aspects of delegated and implementing 
acts. 

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 also provides that as of 3 July 2011, i.e. the end of the 
eight-year  transitional  period  provided  for  in  Article  4(1)  thereof,  electronic 
identification is the only means of identifying a pet dog, cat or ferret. However, an 
animal  bearing  a  clearly  readable  tattoo  applied  before  that  date  continues  to  be 
considered identified in accordance with the Regulation. 

Because of the expiry of the aforementioned transitional regime and period and the 
need to make a number of amendments bringing the animal health requirements laid 
down in Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 into line with the TFEU in a sufficiently clear 
and  accessible  manner  for  the  ordinary  citizen,  that  Regulation  should  be  repealed 
and replaced by this proposal. 

1 
2 
3 

OJ L 146, 13.6.2003, p. 1. 
OJ L 87, 31.3.2009. p. 109. 
OJ L 132, 29.5.2010, p. 3. 

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2. 

CONSULTATION OF INTERESTED PARTIES 

Since the objective of this proposal is mainly to bring Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 
into  line  with  Articles  290  and  291  TFEU  and  to  clarify  certain  aspects  of  the 
Regulation, no significant impacts are foreseen. Hence no particular consultation or 
impact assessment were necessary. 

3. 

LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSAL 

3.1. 

Summary of the proposed action 

The aim of the proposal is to repeal and replace Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 by the 
proposed Regulation, which: 

(a) 

(b) 

aligns  the  powers  conferred  on  the  Commission  under  Regulation  (EC)  No 
998/2003 with Articles 290 and 291 TFEU; 

clarifies for the ordinary citizen the regime that will apply after the end of the 
transitional regime provided for in Articles 6, 8 and 16 of Regulation (EC) No 
998/2003 and of the transitional period provided for in Article 4(1). 

3.2. 

Legal basis 

The primary objective of the proposal is the protection of animal and public health. 

Therefore,  as  Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003  was  based  on  Article  37  and  Article 
152(4)(b)  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  the  proposal  is 
accordingly based on Article 43(2) and Article 168(4) TFEU. 

3.3. 

Subsidiarity principle 

The  subsidiarity  principle  applies  insofar  as  the  proposal  does  not  fall  under  the 
exclusive competence of the Union. 

The  objective  of  the  proposal  cannot  be  sufficiently  achieved  by  Member  States’ 
actions.  To  reduce  the  administrative  burden  for  the  competent  authorities  (EU, 
national and third countries) and for ordinary citizens while preserving a high level 
of  protection  of  animal  and  public  health,  animal  health  requirements  for  the  non-
commercial movement of pet animals into Member States from other Member States 
or third countries are needed at Union level. 

3.4. 

Proportionality principle 

In accordance with the principle of proportionality, this measure does not go beyond 
what is necessary in order to achieve the objective. 

The  form  of  the  measure  is  a  Regulation  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the 
Council which is directly applicable in all Member States. This ensures that national 
and  EU  administrations  will  not  incur  any  costs  for  transposition  of  the  legislation 
into national legislation. 

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3.5. 

Choice of instrument 

Proposed instrument: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council. 

Other means would not be appropriate because the objectives of the measure can be 
achieved most efficiently by fully  harmonised  requirements (including timely entry 
into  force)  throughout  the  Union,  ensuring  free  movement  of  pet  animals 
accompanying their owner. 

4. 

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS 

The proposal has no implications for the Union budget. 

5. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

The proposed act should extend to the European Economic Area since it concerns an 
EEA matter. 

The provisions of 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/EEC4, 
which relates to trade in and imports of dogs, cats and ferrets, refer to the respective 
provisions of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003. 

In  the  interests  of  the  consistency  and  coherence  of  Union  legislation,  Directive 
92/65/EEC should be amended in order to replace the references to Regulation (EC) 
No 998/2003 by references to the proposed act. 

The two proposals are presented together in order to be adopted simultaneously. 

4 

OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. 

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2012/0039 (COD) 

Proposal for a 

REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on the non-commercial movement of pet animals 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European  Union,  and  in  particular 
Article 43(2) and the introductory phrase and point (b) of Article 168(4) thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, 

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national Parliaments, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee5, 

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions6, 

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

(2) 

Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of 
26 May  2003  on  the  animal  health  requirements  applicable  to  the  non-commercial 
movement of pet animals and amending Council Directive 92/65/EEC7 lays down the 
animal  health  requirements  applicable  to  non-commercial  movements  of  pet  animals 
into  a  Member  State  from  another  Member  State  or  from  third  countries  and  the 
checks  applicable  to  such  movements.  It  aims  to  ensure  a  sufficient  level  of  safety 
with  regard  to  the  public  or  animal  health  risks  involved  in  those  non-commercial 
movements and to remove any unjustified obstacles to such movements. 

In a statement annexed to Regulation (EU) No 438/2010 of the European Parliament 
and  of  the  Council8  amending  Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003,  the  Commission 
undertook to propose a revision of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 in its entirety, and, in 
particular, the aspects of delegated and implementing acts. Therefore, due to the entry 
into  force  of  the  Treaty,  the  powers  conferred  on  the  Commission  under  Regulation 
(EC) No 998/2003 need to be aligned with Articles 290 and 291 of that Treaty. Taking 

5 
6 
7 
8 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ C […], […], p. […]. 
OJ L 146, 13.6.2003, p. 1. 
OJ L 132, 29.5.2010, p. 3. 

EN 

4 

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into  account  the  number  of  amendments  that  need  to  be  made  to  the  animal  health 
requirements laid down in Regulation (EC)  No  998/2003 and  in order to ensure  that 
they are sufficiently clear and accessible to the ordinary citizen, that Regulation should 
be repealed and replaced by this Regulation. 

Since  the  objective of this Regulation, namely to lay  down  public and  animal  health 
rules for the non-commercial movement of pet animals of the species listed in Annex I 
in  order  to  prevent  or  minimise  risks  to  public  or  animal  health  arising  from  those 
movements, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can  therefore 
be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with 
the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In accordance with the 
principle  of  proportionality,  as  set  out  in  that  Article,  this  Regulation  does  not  go 
beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective. 

This Regulation should establish a positive list of animal species to which harmonised 
animal health requirements should apply when animals of those species are kept as pet 
animals and moved for non-commercial purposes. When drawing up that list, account 
should be taken of their susceptibility to or role in the epidemiology of rabies. 

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/EEC9  establishes  inter  alia  the 
animal health requirements applicable to trade in and imports of dogs, cats and ferrets, 
which are animals of species susceptible to rabies. Because those species are also kept 
as  pet  animals  and  frequently  moved  for  non-commercial  purposes  with  their  owner 
within  and  into  the  Union,  this  Regulation  should  lay  down  the  animal  health 
requirements  applicable  to  the  non-commercial  movement  of  those  species  into 
Member States. Those species are listed in Part A of Annex I thereto. 

Similarly, a legal framework should be established for the animal health requirements 
applicable  to  the  non-commercial  movement  of  animals  of  species  not  affected  by 
rabies or of no epidemiological significance as regards rabies, to which, if they were 
not kept as pet animals, other Union legislation would apply, including legislation on 
food-producing  animals.  Those  species  are  listed  in  Part  B  of  Annex  I  to  this 
Regulation. 

The list in Part B of Annex I should include invertebrates, with the exception of bees 
and  bumble  bees,  covered  by  Directive  92/65/EEC,  and  molluscs  and  crustaceans, 
covered by Directive 2006/88/EC10. It should also include ornamental aquatic animals 
reared in non-commercial aquaria excluded from the scope of Directive 2006/88/EC, 
and amphibians and reptiles. 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

The  list  should  further  include  all  species  of  birds,  except  poultry  falling  within  the 
scope  of  Directive  92/65/EEC  and  Council  Directive  2009/158/EC  of  30  November 

9 
10 

OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54. 
OJ L 328, 24.11.2006, p. 14. 

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2009  on  animal  health  conditions  governing  intra-Community  trade  in,  and  imports 
from third countries of, poultry and hatching eggs11, and rodents and domestic rabbits. 

(9) 

However, in the interest of consistency of Union legislation, pending the establishment 
of  Union  rules  governing  the  non-commercial  movement  into  a  Member  State  from 
third countries or territories of pet animals of species listed in Part B, existing national 
rules should continue to apply  to such movements provided that they are not stricter 
than those applied to imports of those animals for commercial purposes. 

(10)  Conversely  and  without  prejudice  to  Article  3,  Article  9(3)  and  Article  10a  of 
Directive  92/65/EEC,  Member  States  should  not  lay  down  any  animal  health 
requirements  for  the  non-commercial  movement  into  a  Member  State  from  another 
Member  State  of  pet  animals  of  species  listed  in  Part  B  unless  rules  governing  such 
movement are established in accordance with this Regulation. 

(11)  Because  animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Part  B  may  belong  to  species  that  require 
particular  protection,  this  Regulation  should  apply  without  prejudice  to  Council 
Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild 
fauna and flora by regulating trade therein12. 

(12) 

In  order  to  make  a  clear  distinction  between  the  rules  that  apply  to  movements  for 
non-commercial  purposes  and  to  trade  in  and  imports  into  the  Union  from  third 
countries  of  dogs,  cats  and  ferrets  covered  by  the  animal  health  requirements  of 
Directive 92/65/EEC, this Regulation should not only define a pet animal but also the 
non-commercial  movement  of  such  animals  as  a  movement  which  does  not,  either 
directly or indirectly, involve or aim at a financial gain or a transfer of ownership. 

(13)  The  improvement  in  the  rabies  situation  in  the  Union  prompted  Ireland,  Malta, 
Sweden  and  the  United  Kingdom  to  abandon  the  system  of  mandatory  six  months’ 
quarantine  which  they  applied  for  decades  to  certain  pet  animals  moving  into  their 
territories, in favour of the alternative, less restrictive system providing an equivalent 
level of safety laid down in Regulation (EC) No 998/2003. Those Member States are 
listed in Part A of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 and were to apply until 
31 December 2011, in addition to a valid anti-rabies vaccination, a pre-entry check on 
the effectiveness of the anti-rabies vaccination to pet dogs and cats coming from the 
other  Member  States  and  certain  third  countries  and  territories  in  accordance  with 
national rules. 

(14)  Section 1 of Part B of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 sets out a list of the 
rest  of  the  Member  States,  including  countries  and  territories  which  are,  for  the 
purposes of that Regulation, considered part of those Member States because national 
movement  conditions  apply  to  animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Annex  I  thereto,  or 
considered  comparable  to  Member  States,  when  those  animals  are  moved  for  non-
commercial purposes between the Member States and those countries and territories. 

(15)  Article  355(5)(c)  of  the  Treaty  and  Regulation  (EEC)  No  706/73  of  the  Council  of 
12 March  1973  concerning  the  Community  arrangements  applicable  to  the  Channel 

11 
12 

OJ L 343, 22.12.2009, p. 74. 
OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1. 

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Islands  and  the  Isle  of  Man  for  trade  in  agricultural  products13  provide  that  Union 
veterinary  legislation  applies  to  those  islands,  which,  for  the  purposes  of  Regulation 
(EC) No 998/2003, are treated as part of the United Kingdom. 

(16) 

In  view  of  the  end  of  the  transitional  regime  provided  for  in  Regulation  (EC)  No 
998/2003 and in the interests of clarity of Union legislation, the list of Member States, 
including  Ireland,  Malta,  Sweden  and  the  United  Kingdom,  the  territories  which  are 
part of Member States and Gibraltar, should be set out in Annex II to this Regulation, 
and this Regulation should clarify the animal health conditions applicable to the non-
commercial movement of pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I into a 
Member State from another Member State and from third countries and territories. 

(17)  Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 also provides that, for a transitional period, pet animals 
of  the  species  listed  in  Parts  A  and  B  of  Annex  I  thereto  are  to  be  regarded  as 
identified when they bear either a clear readable tattoo or an electronic identification 
system  (‘transponder’).  This  Regulation  should  therefore  clarify  the  rules  for  the 
marking  of  pet  animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Part  A  of  Annex  I,  including  the 
qualifications  required  for  those  who  carry  out  the  marking,  after  expiry  of  the 
transitional period on 3 July 2011. 

(18)  Annex  Ia  to  Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003  sets  out  technical  requirements  for  the 
identification of pet animals by transponders. Those technical requirements correspond 
to  internationally  accepted  standards  and  should  be  set  out,  without  any  substantial 
amendments being made to them, in Annex III to this Regulation. 

(19) 

In order to protect public health and the health of pet animals of the species listed in 
Annex I, this Regulation should provide for the possibility to adopt preventive health 
measures  for  diseases  and  infections  other  than  rabies.  Those  measures  should  be 
based  on  validated  scientific  information  and  applied  proportionately  to  the  risk  to 
public  or  animal  health  associated  with  the  non-commercial  movement  of  those 
animals likely to be affected by those diseases or infections. They should include rules 
for  the  categorisation  of  Member  States  or  parts  thereof,  procedures  under  which 
Member  States  that  require  the  application  of  preventive  health  measures  should 
substantiate  the  rationale  for  such  measures  on  a  continuous  basis,  conditions  for 
applying  and  documenting  the  preventive  health  measures  and,  where  appropriate, 
conditions for derogating from their application. It should therefore also be provided 
that a list of Member States or parts thereof categorised pursuant to the rules for the 
categorisation of Member States or parts thereof is to be laid down in an implementing 
act to be adopted in accordance with this Regulation. 

(20)  Rabies vaccines administered to pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I 
before the age of three months may not induce protective immunity due to competition 
with  maternal  antibodies.  Consequently,  vaccine  manufacturers  recommend  not  to 
vaccinate  young  animals  before  that  age.  Therefore,  in  order  to  authorise  the  non-
commercial movement of young animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I not 
vaccinated  against  rabies,  this  Regulation  should  establish  certain  precautionary 
measures  to  be  taken  and  give  the  Member  States  the  possibility  to  authorise  such 
movement into their territory when young animals comply with those measures. 

13 

OJ L 68, 15.3.1973, p. 1. 

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(21) 

In order to simplify the conditions for the non-commercial movement of pet animals 
of  the  species  listed  in  Part  A  of  Annex  I  between  Member  States  of  equivalent 
favourable  status  with  regard  to  rabies,  this  Regulation  should  also  provide  for  the 
possibility  to  adopt  conditions  for  derogating  from  the  anti-rabies  vaccination 
requirement.  Such  measures  should  be  based  on  validated  scientific  information  and 
applied proportionately to the risk to public or animal health associated with the non-
commercial  movement  of  those  animals  likely  to  be  affected  by  rabies.  They  should 
include rules for the categorisation of Member States or parts thereof, and procedures 
under  which  Member  States  that  require  the  application  of  the  derogation  should 
substantiate the rationale for such derogation on a continuous basis. It should also be 
provided  that  a  list  of  Member  States  categorised  pursuant  to  the  rules  for  the 
categorisation of Member States or parts thereof is to be laid down in an implementing 
act to be adopted in accordance with this Regulation. 

(22)  Countries and territories listed in Section 2 of Part B of Annex II to Regulation (EC) 
No  998/2003  apply  rules  equivalent  to  those  applied  by  Member  States  while  third 
countries and territories listed in Part C of Annex II to that Regulation comply with the 
criteria laid down in Article 10 of that Regulation. It should therefore be provided that 
those lists, without any substantial amendments being made to them, should be set out 
in  an  implementing  act  to  be  adopted  within  one  year  from  the  adoption  of  this 
Regulation.  However,  this  Regulation  should  provide  that  the  list  of  countries  and 
territories set out in Section 2 of Part B and in Part C of Annex II to Regulation (EC) 
No  998/2003  should  continue  to  apply  for  the  purpose  of  this  Regulation  until  that 
implementing act enters into force. 

(23)  Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 lays down certain requirements for the non-commercial 
movement  of  pet  animals  into  Member  States  from  other  Member  States  and  from 
countries or territories listed in Section 2 of Part B and in Part C of Annex II thereto, 
which inter alia include a valid anti-rabies vaccination carried out on the pet animals 
in question with vaccines complying with the minimum standards as laid down in the 
relevant  Chapter  of  the  Manual  of  Diagnostic  Tests  and  Vaccines  for  Terrestrial 
Animals of the World Organisation for Animal health (OIE), or for which a marketing 
authorisation has been granted in accordance with either Directive 2001/82/EC of the 
European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code 
relating  to  veterinary  medicinal  products14  or  Regulation  (EC)  No  726/2004  of  the 
European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 laying down Community 
procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human and 
veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines Agency15. Those vaccines have 
proven to be effective in protecting animals against rabies and form part of the validity 
requirements for the anti-rabies vaccination set out in Annex Ib to Regulation (EC) No 
998/2003.  Those  requirements,  without  any  substantial  amendments  being  made  to 
them, should be set out in Annex IV to this Regulation. 

(24)  Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003  lays  down  more  stringent  animal  health  requirements 
for pet animals moved into Member States from third countries or territories other than 
those listed in Part C of Annex II thereto. Those requirements include checks on the 
effectiveness  in  individual  animals  of  the  anti-rabies  vaccination  by  titration  of 

14 
15 

OJ L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 1. 
OJ L 136, 30.4.2004, p. 1. 

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antibodies in a laboratory approved in accordance with Council Decision 2000/258/EC 
of  20  March  2000  designating  a  specific  institute  responsible  for  establishing  the 
criteria necessary for standardising the serological tests to monitor the effectiveness of 
rabies vaccines16. That requirement should therefore be maintained in Annex V to this 
Regulation  and  a  condition  should  be  included  that  the  test  should  be  performed  in 
accordance with the methods laid down in the relevant Chapter of the OIE Manual of 
Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals. 

(25) 

Identification documents accompanying pet animals of the species listed in Part A of 
Annex  I  which  are  moved  for  non-commercial  purposes  into  Member  States  are 
necessary to attest compliance with the conditions of this Regulation. The Regulation 
should therefore establish the conditions for issuing the identification documents and 
the requirements for their content, validity and format. 

(26)  This  Regulation  should  allow  Member  States  to  authorise  the  non-commercial 
movement onto their territory of pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I 
accompanied by an identification document issued in a third country or territory which 
applies  rules  equivalent  to  those  applied  by  Member  States.  It  should  also  allow 
Member States to authorise the non-commercial movement onto their territory after a 
temporary movement in a third country or territory of those pet animals accompanied 
by an identification document issued in a Member State provided that the conditions to 
return from those countries or territories are met before the animal left the Union. 

(27)  This Regulation should also give the Member States the possibility to authorise, where 
the  need  for  an  urgent  departure  arises,  the  direct  entry  onto  their  territory  of  pet 
animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Annex  I  which  do  not  comply  with  the  conditions 
provided  for  in  this  Regulation  provided  that  a  permit  is  applied  for  in  advance  and 
granted  by  the  Member  State  of  destination,  and  a  time-limited  quarantine  under 
official supervision is carried out to meet those conditions. Despite the need for such 
urgent  departure,  such  permit  should  be  indispensable  due  to  the  animal  health  risks 
arising  from  the  introduction  into  the  Union  of  a  pet  animal  not  complying  with  the 
conditions provided for in this Regulation. 

(28)  Council  Directive  90/425/EEC  of  26  June  1990  concerning  veterinary  and 
zootechnical  checks  applicable  in  intra-Community  trade  in  certain  live  animals  and 
products with a view to the completion of the internal market17 and 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/EEC18  do  not  apply  to 
veterinary  checks  on  pet  animals  accompanying  travellers  for  non-commercial 
purposes. 

(29)  Therefore,  in  order  for  the  Member  States  to  verify  compliance  with  the  rules  laid 
down  in  this  Regulation  and  to  take  the  necessary  action,  this  Regulation  should 
require the person accompanying the pet animal to present the required identification 
document at the time of any non-commercial movement or entry into a Member State 

16 
17 
18 

OJ L 79, 30.3.2000, p. 40. 
OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29. 
OJ L 268, 24.9.1991, p. 56. 

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and  provide  for  targeted  or  random  documentary  and  identity  checks  on  pet  animals 
moving  for  non-commercial  purposes  into  a  Member  State  from  another  Member 
State. It should also require Member States to carry out systematic documentary and 
identity checks at designated entry points on pet animals moving for non-commercial 
purposes into a Member State from third countries or territories. Those checks should 
take  account  of  the  relevant  principles  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  882/2004  of  the 
European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  29  April  2004  on  official  controls 
performed  to  ensure  the  verification  of  compliance  with  feed  and  food  law,  animal 
health and welfare rules19. 

(30) 

In addition, this Regulation should provide for safeguard measures for the purpose of 
dealing  with  risks  to  public  or  animal  health  arising  from  the  non-commercial 
movement of pet animals. 

(31)  With a view to providing the citizen with clear and accessible information concerning 
the rules that apply to the non-commercial movement into the Union of pet animals of 
the  species  listed  in  Annex  I,  Member  States  should  be  required  to  make  that 
information,  notably  the  relevant  provisions  of  national  law,  available  to  the  public 
within one year from the date of adoption of this Regulation. 

(32) 

(33) 

(34) 

In  order  to  ensure  proper  application  of  this  Regulation,  the  power  to  adopt  acts  in 
accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 
should  be  delegated  to  the  Commission  in  respect  of  rules  on  the  conditions  for 
derogating  from  certain  conditions  applicable  to  the  non-commercial  movement 
between Member States of equivalent status with regard to rabies of pet animals of the 
species listed in Part A of Annex I, species-specific requirements for the marking of 
pet animals listed in Part B of Annex I thereto and species-specific preventive health 
measures  against  diseases  or  infections  other  than  rabies  affecting  species  of  pet 
animals listed in Annex I thereto, as well as to adopt rules for limiting the number of 
pet  animals  of  species  listed  in  Annex  I  accompanying  their  owner  during  a  non-
commercial  movement  and  to  amend  Annexes  II  to  V  thereto.  It  is  of  particular 
importance  that  the  Commission  carry  out  appropriate  consultations  during  its 
preparatory work, including at expert level.   

The Commission, when preparing and drawing up such delegated acts, should ensure 
simultaneous,  timely  and  appropriate  transmission  of  relevant  documents  to  the 
European Parliament and Council. 

In addition, the power to adopt acts in accordance with the urgency procedure should 
be  delegated  to  the  Commission  in  duly  justified  cases  of  risks  to  public  or  animal 
health  in  respect  of  preventive  health  measures  against  diseases  or  infections  other 
than rabies likely to affect pet animals of the species listed in Annex I. 

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation with 
respect to the list of Member States or parts thereof categorised in accordance with the 
conditions  for  derogating  from  certain  conditions  applicable  to  the  non-commercial 
movement  between  Member  States  of  equivalent  status  with  regard  to  rabies  of  pet 
animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Part  A  of  Annex  I  and  with  the  rules  concerning 

19 

OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1. 

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preventive  health  measures  against  diseases  and  infections  other  than  rabies  and  the 
lists  of  third  countries  or  territories  for  the  purpose  of  derogating  from  certain  non-
commercial movement conditions, the model for the identification documents that are 
to  accompany  pet  animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Annex  I  being  moved  for  non-
commercial purposes into a Member State from another Member State or from a third 
country  or  territory,  safeguard  measures  in  the  event  of  the  occurrence  or  spread  of 
rabies, and the uniform application of information requirements, implementing powers 
should  be  conferred  on  the  Commission.  Those  powers  should  be  exercised  in 
accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning 
mechanisms  for  control  by  Member  States  of  the  Commission’s  exercise  of 
implementing powers20. 

(35)  The Commission should adopt immediately applicable implementing acts updating the 
list  of  third  countries  or  territories  for  the  purpose  of  derogating  from  certain  non-
commercial  movement  conditions  and  regarding  safeguard  measures  in  the  event  of 
the occurrence or spread of rabies, where, in duly justified cases, related to animal and 
public health, imperative grounds of urgency so require. 

(36)  Certain failures to comply with the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 
have been revealed in a number of Member States. Accordingly, Member States must 
lay down rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation. 

(37)  Commission  Decision  2003/803/EC  of  26  November  2003  establishing  a  model 
passport for the intra-Community movement of dogs, cats and ferrets21 establishes the 
model passport for the movement of pet animals of the species dogs, cats and ferrets 
between  Member  States,  as  provided  for  in  Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003. 
Identification  documents  issued  in  accordance  with  that  model  passport  should, 
subject  to  certain  conditions,  remain  valid  for  the  lifespan  of  the  animal  in  order  to 
limit the administrative and financial burden on owners. 

(38)  Commission Implementing Decision 2011/874/EU of 15 December 2011 laying down 
the list of third countries and territories authorised for imports of dogs, cats and ferrets 
and for non-commercial movements of more than five dogs, cats and ferrets into the 
Union and the model certificates for imports and non-commercial movements of those 
animals into the Union22 establishes the model health certificate attesting compliance 
with  the  requirements  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  998/2003  for  the  non-commercial 
movements of five or less dogs, cats or ferrets into the Union. In order to give time to 
Member  States  to  adapt  to  the  new  rules  laid  down  in  this  Regulation,  that  model 
certificate should remain valid subject to certain conditions, 

20 
21 
22 

OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13. 
OJ L 312, 27.11.2003, p. 1. 
OJ L 343, 23.12.2011, p. 65. 

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HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 

CHAPTER I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Article 1 
Subject matter 

This Regulation lays down the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial 
movement of pet animals and the rules for checks on such movements. 

Article 2 
Scope 

1. 

This Regulation shall apply to the non-commercial movement of pet animals of the 
species listed in Annex I into a Member State from another Member State or from a 
third country or territory. 

2. 

This Regulation shall apply without prejudice to: 

(a)  Regulation (EC) No 338/97; 

(b)  measures taken by Member States to restrict the movement of certain species 
or breeds of pet animals on the basis of considerations other than those relating 
to animal health. 

Article 3 
Definitions 

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

‘non-commercial movement’ means any movement which does not, either directly or 
indirectly, involve or aim at a financial gain or a transfer of ownership; 

‘pet animal’ means an animal of the species listed in Annex I accompanying for the 
purposes  of  a  non-commercial  movement  its  owner,  or  a  natural  person  acting  on 
behalf  of  and  in  agreement  with  the  owner,  and  which  remains  during  such  non-
commercial movement under the responsibility of the owner or such person; 

‘owner’ means a natural person who owns and possesses the pet animal; 

‘transponder’ means a read-only passive radio frequency identification device; 

‘identification document’ means any document enabling the pet animal to be clearly 
identified and its health status to be checked for compliance with this Regulation; 

(f) 

‘Member States’ means the countries and territories listed in Annex II; 

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(g) 

‘travellers’ point of entry’ means any check-in area designated by Member States for 
the purposes of Article 36(1). 

Article 4 
General obligations 

Non-commercial movements of pet animals that comply with the animal health requirements 
laid down in this Regulation shall not be prohibited, restricted or impeded on animal health 
grounds other than those resulting from the application of this Regulation. 

CHAPTER II 
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENTS OF PET 
ANIMALS INTO A MEMBER STATE FROM ANOTHER MEMBER STATE 

Article 5 
Non-commercial movement conditions applicable to pet animals of the species listed in 
Part A of Annex I 

Pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I shall not be moved into a Member State 
from another Member State unless they: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

are actively marked in accordance with Article 16(1); 

have received an anti-rabies vaccination that complies with the validity requirements 
set out in Annex IV; 

comply  with  the  preventive  health  measures  for  diseases  or  infections  other  than 
rabies, where necessary: 

(i) 

under Article 18(1) of this Regulation, or 

(ii) 

adopted  pursuant  to  the  second  subparagraph  of  Article  5(1)  of  Regulation 
(EC) No 998/2003; 

(d) 

are accompanied by a duly completed identification document issued in accordance 
with Article 20(1). 

Article 6 
Derogation from the anti-rabies vaccination condition for young pet animals of the species 
listed in Part A of Annex I 

By  way  of  derogation  from  Article  5(b),  Member  States  may  authorise  the  non-commercial 
movement  of  pet  animals  which  are  less  than  three  months  old  and  not  vaccinated  against 
rabies, provided that they are  accompanied  by their identification document duly completed 
and issued in accordance with Article 20, and either:  

(a) 

the owner or a natural person acting on behalf of and in agreement with the owner 
provides  proof  that  they  have  remained  in  their  place  of  birth  without  any  contact 
with wild animals of susceptible species likely to have been exposed to rabies, or 

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(b) 

they  are  accompanied  by  their  mother,  on  whom  they  still  depend,  and  it  has  been 
documented  that  their  mother  received  before  their  birth  an  anti-rabies  vaccination 
which complied with the validity requirements set out in Annex IV. 

Article 7 
Derogation from the anti-rabies vaccination condition for pet animals of the species listed 
in Part A of Annex I 

1. 

2. 

By  way  of  derogation  from  Article  5(b),  the  non-commercial  movement  of  pet 
animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I not vaccinated against rabies may 
be  authorised  between  Member  States  or  parts  thereof  which  are  free  of  rabies 
provided they comply with specific conditions. In order to ensure that the necessary 
measures  are  in  place  for  the  appropriate  authorisation  of  non-commercial 
movements  under  this  derogation,  the  Commission  shall  be  empowered  to  adopt 
delegated acts in accordance with Article 41 concerning those specific conditions for 
the authorisation of such non-commercial movements. 

The specific conditions for the authorisation laid down in the delegated acts adopted 
pursuant to paragraph 1 shall be based on adequate, reliable and validated scientific 
information  concerning  an  assessment  of  the  health  status  regarding  rabies  in 
Member States or parts thereof and applied proportionately to the risks to public or 
animal  health  associated  with  the  non-commercial  movement  of  pet  animals  of  the 
species listed in Part A of Annex I likely to be affected by rabies. 

3. 

For the same purpose the delegated acts referred to in paragraph 1 may also include: 

(a) 

rules for the categorisation of Member States or parts thereof based on historic 
data  concerning  their  rabies  status  and  on  their  surveillance  and  reporting 
systems with regard to rabies; 

(b) 

the  conditions  that  Member  States  must  fulfil  to  remain  eligible  for  the 
authorisation referred to in paragraph 2. 

Article 8 
List of Member States or parts of the territory of Member States to be categorised in 
accordance with delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 7(1) 

The  Commission  shall,  by  means  of  an  implementing  act,  adopt  lists  of  Member  States  or 
parts  of  the  territory  of  Member  States  that  comply  with  the  rules  for  the  categorisation  of 
Member States or parts thereof as referred to in Article 7(3)(a). That implementing act shall 
be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 43(2). 

Article 9 
Non-commercial movement conditions applicable to pet animals of the species listed in 
Part B of Annex I 

1. 

Pet  animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Part  B  of  Annex  I  shall  not  be  moved  into  a 
Member  State  from  another  Member  State  unless  they  comply  with  the  following 
conditions: 

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(a) 

they are marked or described as provided for in Article 16(2); 

(b) 

they  comply  with  the  preventive  health  measures  for  diseases  or  infections 
other than rabies as provided in Article 18(1); 

(c) 

they are accompanied by a duly completed identification document issued: 

(i) 

in accordance with Article 28; 

(ii) 

in the format provided for in Article 30. 

2. 

The conditions referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply from the date of application of 
the  relevant  delegated  or  implementing  acts  provided  for  in  Article  16(2),  Article 
18(1) and Article 30. 

CHAPTER III 
CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENTS OF PET 
ANIMALS INTO A MEMBER STATE FROM A THIRD COUNTRY OR 
TERRITORY 

Article 10 
Non-commercial movement conditions applicable to pet animals of the species listed in 
Part A of Annex I 

Pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I shall not be moved into a Member State 
from a third country or territory unless they: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

are actively marked in accordance with Article 16(1); 

have received an anti-rabies vaccination that complies with the validity requirements 
set out in Annex IV; 

have  undergone  a  rabies  antibody  titration  test  that  complies  with  the  validity 
requirements set out in Annex V; 

comply  with  the  preventive  health  measures  for  diseases  or  infections  other  than 
rabies, where necessary: 

(i) 

under Article 18(1) of this Regulation, or 

(ii) 

adopted  pursuant  to  the  second  subparagraph  of  Article  5(1)  of  Regulation 
(EC) No 998/2003; 

(e) 

are accompanied by a duly completed identification document issued in accordance 
with Article 24. 

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Article 11 
Derogation from the anti-rabies vaccination condition for young pet animals of the species 
listed in Part A of Annex I 

1. 

By  way  of  derogation  from  Article  10(b),  Member  States  may  authorise  the  non-
commercial  movement  into  their  territory  of  pet  animals  which  are  less  than  three 
months old and not vaccinated against rabies from third countries or territories listed 
in  the  implementing  acts  adopted  pursuant  to  Article  13,  provided  that  they  are 
accompanied  by  their  identification  document  duly  completed  and  issued  in 
accordance with Article 24, and either: 

(a) 

(b) 

the  owner  or  a  natural  person  acting  on  behalf  of  and  in  agreement  with  the 
owner  provides  proof  that  they  have  remained  in  their  place  of  birth  without 
any  contact  with  wild  animals  of  susceptible  species  likely  to  have  been 
exposed to rabies, or 

they are accompanied by their mother, on whom they still depend, and it has 
been  documented  that  their  mother  received  before  their  birth  an  anti-rabies 
vaccination  which  complied  with  the  validity  requirements  set  out  in 
Annex IV. 

2. 

However, the  subsequent non-commercial movement into another Member State of 
those  pet  animals  shall  be  prohibited,  except  where  they  are  moved  in  accordance 
with the conditions laid down in Article 5. 

Article 12 
Derogation from the antibody titration test condition for pet animals of the species listed in 
Part A of Annex I 

By way of derogation from Article 10(c), the antibody titration test shall not be required for 
pet animals which are being moved into a Member State: 

(a) 

(b) 

either  directly  from  a  third  country  or  territory  listed  in  the  implementing  acts 
adopted pursuant to Article 13 or following residency exclusively in one or more of 
those third countries or territories, or 

from a third country or territory listed in the implementing acts adopted pursuant to 
Article 13 after transit through third countries or territories other than those listed in 
the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 13, provided that the owner or a 
natural person acting on behalf  of and in agreement with  the owner  provides  proof 
that during such transit, the pet animals have had no contact with species susceptible 
to rabies and remain secured within a means of transport or within the perimeter of 
an international airport. 

Article 13 
Establishment of a list of third countries or territories for the purpose of Article 12 

1. 

The  Commission  shall,  by  means  of  an  implementing  act,  by  [date  to  be  inserted: 
one  year  after  entry  into  force  of  this  Regulation]  adopt  a  list  of  third  countries  or 
territories  which  have  demonstrated  that  they  apply  rules  equivalent  to  those  laid 

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down in Chapter II, this Chapter and Section 2 of Chapter VI for animals of species 
listed in Part A of Annex I. 

2. 

The  Commission  shall,  by  means  of  an  implementing  act,  by  [date  to  be  inserted: 
one  year  after  entry  into  force  of  this  Regulation]  adopt  a  list  of  third  countries  or 
territories  which  have  demonstrated  that  for  animals  of  species  listed  in  Part  A  of 
Annex I, they meet at least the following criteria: 

(a) 

the notification of cases of rabies to the competent authorities is obligatory; 

(b) 

(c) 

an efficient monitoring and reporting system for rabies has been in place for at 
least two years; 

the  structure  and  organisation  of  their  veterinary  services  are  sufficient  to 
guarantee  the  validity  of  the  animal  health  certificates  provided  for  in 
Article 26 and issued in accordance with Article 24; 

(d)  measures  for  the  prevention  and  control  of  rabies  have  been  implemented, 
including  rules  for  imports  into  these  third  countries  or  territories  of  pet 
animals; 

(e) 

rules are in force on the licensing and marketing of anti-rabies vaccines. 

3. 

The  implementing  acts  referred  to  in  paragraphs  1  and  2  shall  be  adopted  in 
accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 43(2). 

On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency relating to risks to public or animal 
health,  the  Commission  shall  adopt  immediately  applicable  implementing  acts 
updating the list of third countries or territories referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 in 
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 43(3). 

Article 14 
Non-commercial movement conditions applicable to pet animals of the species listed in 
Part B of Annex I 

1. 

Pet  animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Part  B  of  Annex  I  shall  not  be  moved  into  a 
Member State from a third country or territory unless they comply with the following 
conditions: 

(a) 

they are marked or described as provided for in Article 16(2); 

(b) 

they  comply  with  the  preventive  health  measures  for  diseases  or  infections 
other than rabies as provided for in Article 18(1); 

(c) 

they are accompanied by a duly completed identification document issued: 

(i) 

in accordance with Article 28; 

(ii) 

in the format provided for in Article 33. 

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2. 

3. 

The conditions referred to in paragraph 1 shall apply from the date of application of 
the  relevant  delegated  or  implementing  acts  provided  for  in  Article  16(2),  Article 
18(1) and Article 33. 

Pending  the  adoption  of  the  delegated  and  implementing  acts  referred  to  in 
paragraph 2, national rules shall continue to apply provided that such rules are: 

(a) 

applied  proportionately  to  the  risk  to  public  or  animal  health  associated  with 
the non-commercial movement of the pet animals of the species listed in Part B 
of Annex I; 

(b)  not  stricter  than  those  applied  to  imports  of  animals  of  those  species  in 

accordance with Directive 92/65/EEC. 

Article 15 
Derogation from the non-commercial movement conditions between certain countries of 
pet animals of the species listed in Annex I 

By way of derogation from Articles 10 and 14, the non-commercial movement of pet animals 
between  the  following  countries  may  continue  under  the  conditions  laid  down  by  their 
national rules: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

San Marino and Italy; 

the Vatican and Italy; 

Monaco and France; 

Andorra and France; 

Andorra and Spain; 

Norway and Sweden. 

CHAPTER IV 
MARKING AND PREVENTIVE HEALTH MEASURES 

SECTION 1 
MARKING 

Article 16 
Marking of pet animals 

1. 

Pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I shall be actively marked by the 
implantation  of  a  transponder  complying  with  the  technical  requirements  set  out  in 
Annex III or by a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011. 

Where such pet animal is marked with a transponder that does not comply with the 
technical requirements set out in Annex III, the owner or the natural person acting on 
behalf  of  and  in  agreement  with  the  owner  shall  provide  the  means  necessary  for 

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reading  that  transponder  at  the  time  of  any  verification  of  identity  provided  for  in 
Article 20(2), Article 24(2), Article 35 and Article 36(1). 

2. 

Pet animals of the species listed in Part B of Annex I shall be marked or described 
taking  into  account  the  specificities  of  each  species  in  such  a  manner  that  an 
unequivocal  link  between  the  pet  animal  and  its  corresponding  identification 
document is ensured. 

In order to take into account the specificities of the species in Part B of Annex I the 
Commission  shall  be  empowered  to  adopt  delegated  acts  in  accordance  with 
Article 41  concerning  such  species-specific  requirements  for  marking  or  describing 
those pet animals. 

Article 17 
Qualifications required for implanting transponders in pet animals 

Member States shall lay down rules on the minimum qualifications required for the persons 
carrying out the implantation of transponders in pet animals. 

SECTION 2 
PREVENTIVE HEALTH MEASURES FOR DISEASES OR INFECTIONS OTHER THAN RABIES 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Article 18 
Preventive health measures and conditions for their application 

Where preventive health measures are necessary for the protection of public health or 
the health of pet animals of the species listed in Annex I for the control of diseases or 
infections  other  than  rabies,  likely  to  be  spread  due  to  the  movement  of  those  pet 
animals, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance 
with  Article  41  concerning  species-specific  preventive  health  measures  for  such 
diseases or infections. 

Where,  in  the  event  of  risks  to  public  or  animal  health,  imperative  grounds  of 
urgency so require, the procedure provided for in Article 42 shall apply to delegated 
acts adopted pursuant to this paragraph. 

The  species-specific  preventive  health  measures  authorised  by  a  delegated  act 
adopted  pursuant  to  paragraph  1  shall  be  based  on  adequate,  reliable  and  validated 
scientific  information  and  applied  proportionately  to  the  risk  to  public  or  animal 
health associated with the non-commercial movement  of pet animals of the species 
listed in Annex I likely to be affected by diseases or infections other than rabies. 

For  the  same  purpose  the  delegated  acts  provided  for  in  paragraph  1  may  also 
include: 

(a) 

rules  for  the  categorisation  of  Member  States  or  parts  thereof  depending  on 
their  animal  health  status  and  their  surveillance  and  reporting  systems  with 
regard to certain diseases or infections other than rabies; 

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(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

the  conditions  that  Member  States  must  fulfil  to  remain  eligible  for  the 
application of the preventive health measures referred to in paragraph 2; 

the  conditions  for  applying  and  documenting  the  preventive  health  measures 
referred  to  in  paragraph  2  prior  to  the  non-commercial  movement  of  pet 
animals of the species listed in Annex I; 

the conditions for the granting of derogations in certain specified circumstances 
from  the  application  of  the  preventive  health  measures  referred  to  in 
paragraph 2. 

Article 19 
List of Member States or parts of the territory of Member States categorised in accordance 
with delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 18(1) 

The  Commission  shall,  by  means  of  an  implementing  act,  adopt  lists  of  Member  States  or 
parts  of  the  territory  of  Member  States  that  comply  with  the  rules  for  the  categorisation  of 
Member States or parts thereof as referred to in Article 18(3)(a). That implementing act shall 
be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 43(2). 

CHAPTER V 
IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS 

SECTION 1 
IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS FOR THE NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT INTO A MEMBER 
STATE FROM ANOTHER MEMBER STATE OF PET ANIMALS OF THE SPECIES LISTED IN PART A 
OF ANNEX I 

Article 20 
Issuing of the identification document 

1. 

The identification document referred to in Article 5(d) shall: 

(a) 

be  issued  by  a  veterinarian  authorised  by  the  competent  authority  for  that 
purpose; 

(b)  document  compliance  with  the  requirements  provided  for  in  Article  5(a),  (b) 
and  (c)  and,  where  applicable,  in  Article  27(b)(ii);  such  compliance  may  be 
documented  in  more  than  one  identification document  in the format provided 
for in Article 22(1). 

2. 

Compliance  with  the  marking  requirements  provided  for  in  Article  5(a)  shall  be 
verified before: 

(a) 

the identification document is issued in accordance with paragraph 1(a); 

(b) 

compliance with the requirements referred to in paragraph 1(b) is documented. 

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Article 21 
Information to be provided by the identification document 

1. 

The  identification  document  referred  to  in  Article  5(d)  shall  provide  the  following 
information: 

(a) 

the  location,  date  of  application  and  alphanumeric  code  displayed  by  the 
transponder or the tattoo; 

(b) 

the name, address and signature of the owner; 

(c) 

details of the anti-rabies vaccination; 

(d) 

(e) 

the  date  of  blood  sampling  for  the  rabies  antibody  titration  test  in  the  case 
provided for in Article 27(b)(ii); 

compliance with the preventive health measures for diseases or infections other 
than rabies, where necessary: 

(i) 

under Article 18(1) of this Regulation, or 

(ii) 

adopted  pursuant  to  the  second  subparagraph  of  Article  5(1)  of 
Regulation (EC) No 998/2003; 

(f) 

other relevant information regarding the description and the health status of the 
animal. 

The  veterinarian  issuing  the  identification  document  shall  record  the  information 
referred to in paragraph 1(a) and (b) and keep records of that information for at least 
10 years from the date of issue of the identification document. 

Article 22 
Format of the identification document 

The  identification  document  referred  to  in  Article  5(d)  shall  be  in  the  format  of  a 
passport in accordance with the model to be adopted by the Commission by means of 
an implementing act and contain entries for the insertion of the information required 
in  accordance  with  Article  21(1).  That  implementing  act  shall  be  adopted  in 
accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 43(2) by [date to be 
inserted: three years after entry into force of this Regulation]. 

The  implementing  act  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  shall  lay  down  requirements 
concerning the languages and the layout of the passport referred to in that paragraph. 

The  passport  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  shall  bear  a  number  consisting  of  the  ISO 
code of the Member State of issue followed by a unique alphanumeric code. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

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Article 23 
Derogation from the format of the identification document provided for in Article 22(1) 

1. 

2. 

By  way  of  derogation  from  Article  22(1),  Member  States  shall  authorise  the  non-
commercial  movement  into  a  Member  State  from  another  Member  State  of  pet 
animals  accompanied  by  the  identification  document  issued  for  the  purposes  of 
Article 10(e): 

(a) 

in accordance with Article 24; 

(b) 

in the format provided for in Article 26(1). 

Where necessary, compliance with the requirements referred to in Article 5(c) shall 
be  documented  in  the  identification  document  referred  to  in  paragraph  1,  after  the 
completion of the checks provided for in Article 36(1). 

SECTION 2 
IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS FOR THE NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT INTO A MEMBER 
STATE FROM A THIRD COUNTRY OR TERRITORY OF PET ANIMALS OF THE SPECIES LISTED IN 
PART A OF ANNEX I 

Article 24 
Issuing of the identification document 

1. 

The  identification  document  referred  to  in  Article  10(e)  shall  bear  a  serial  number 
and: 

(a) 

be issued by: 

(i) 

(ii) 

an  official  veterinarian  of  the  third  country  of  dispatch  on  the  basis  of 
supporting documentation, or 

a veterinarian authorised by the competent authority of the third country 
of dispatch for that purpose and subsequently endorsed by the competent 
authority; 

(b)  document  compliance  with  the  requirements  provided  for  in  Article  10(a)  to 

(d). 

2. 

Compliance  with  the  marking  requirements  referred  to  in  Article  10(a)  shall  be 
verified before: 

(a) 

the identification document is issued in accordance with paragraph 1; 

(b) 

compliance  with  the  requirements  referred  to  in  Article  10(b),  (c)  and  (d)  is 
documented. 

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Article 25 
Information to be provided by the identification document 

1. 

The identification document referred to in Article 10(e) shall provide the following 
information: 

(a) 

(b) 

the  location,  date  of  application  and  alphanumeric  code  displayed  by  the 
transponder or the tattoo; 

the name and address of the owner or the natural person acting on behalf of and 
in agreement with the owner; 

(c) 

details of the anti-rabies vaccination; 

(d) 

the date of blood sampling for the rabies antibody titration test; 

(e) 

compliance with the preventive health measures for diseases or infections other 
than rabies, where necessary: 

(i) 

under Article 18(1) of this Regulation, or 

(ii) 

adopted  pursuant  to  the  second  subparagraph  of  Article  5(1)  of 
Regulation (EC) No 998/2003; 

(f) 

other relevant information regarding the description and the health status of the 
animal. 

The identification document referred to in Article 10(e) shall be supplemented by a 
written declaration signed by the owner or the natural person acting on behalf of and 
in agreement with the owner stating that the pet animal is moved into the Union for 
non-commercial purposes. 

Article 26 
Format of the identification document 

The identification document referred to in Article 10(e) shall be in the format of an 
animal  health  certificate  in  accordance  with  the  model  to  be  adopted  by  the 
Commission by means of an implementing act and contain entries for the insertion of 
the  information  required  in  accordance  with  Article  25(1).  That  implementing  act 
shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 
43(2) by [date to be inserted: three years after entry into force of this Regulation]. 

The  implementing  act  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  shall  lay  down  requirements 
concerning the languages, the layout and the validity of the animal health certificate 
referred to in that paragraph. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

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Article 27 
Derogation from the format of the identification document 

By way of derogation from Article 26(1), Member States shall authorise the non-commercial 
movement of pet animals accompanied by the identification document in the format provided 
for in Article 22(1) where: 

(a) 

(b) 

the identification document has been issued in one of the third countries or territories 
listed in the implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 13(1), or 

such  pet  animals  enter  a  Member  State,  after  temporary  movement  to  or  transit 
through  a  third  country  or  territory  from  a  Member  State,  and  a  veterinarian 
authorised  by  the  competent  authority  has  documented  that  before  the  pet  animals 
left the Union they had: 

(i) 

received an anti-rabies vaccination; 

(ii)  undergone a rabies antibody titration test, except in the case of the derogation 

as provided for in Article 12. 

SECTION 3 
IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS FOR THE NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT INTO A MEMBER 
STATE FROM ANOTHER MEMBER STATE OF PET ANIMALS OF THE SPECIES LISTED IN PART B 
OF ANNEX I 

Article 28 
Issuing of the identification document 

1. 

The identification document referred to in Article 9(1)(c) shall: 

(a) 

be  issued  by  a  veterinarian  authorised  by  the  competent  authority  for  that 
purpose; 

(b)  document compliance with Article 9(1)(a), (b) and (c). 

2. 

Compliance  with  the  marking  or  description  requirements  provided  for  in 
Article 9(1)(a) shall be verified before: 

(a) 

the identification document is issued in accordance with paragraph 1(a); 

(b) 

the requirements provided for in Article 9(1)(a), (b) and (c) are documented in 
accordance with Article 18(3)(c). 

Article 29 
Information to be provided by the identification document 

The  identification  document  referred  to  in  Article  9(1)(c)  shall  provide  the  following 
information: 

(a) 

the  characteristics  of  the  mark  or  the  description  of  the  animal  as  provided  for  in 
Article 16(2); 

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(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

1. 

2. 

the name, address and signature of the owner; 

details of the preventive health measures for diseases or infections other than rabies, 
where necessary, under Article 18(1); 

other  relevant  information  regarding  the  description  and  the  health  status  of  the 
animal. 

Article 30 
Format of the identification document 

The  Commission  shall,  by  means  of  an  implementing  act,  adopt  a  model  of  the 
identification document referred to in Article 9(1)(c) which shall contain entries for 
the  insertion  of  the  information  required  in  accordance  with  Article  29.  That 
implementing  act  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  examination  procedure 
referred to in Article 43(2). 

The  implementing  act  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  shall  lay  down  requirements 
concerning the languages, the layout and the validity of the identification document 
referred to in that paragraph. 

SECTION 4 
IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS FOR THE NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT INTO A MEMBER 
STATE FROM A THIRD COUNTRY OR TERRITORY OF PET ANIMALS OF THE SPECIES LISTED IN 
PART B OF ANNEX I 

Article 31 
Issuing of the identification document 

1. 

The identification document referred to in Article 14(1)(c) shall: 

(a) 

be issued by: 

(i) 

an official veterinarian on the basis of supporting documentation, or 

(ii) 

a veterinarian authorised by the competent authority for that purpose and 
subsequently endorsed by the competent authority; 

(b)  document compliance with Article 14(1)(a), (b) and (c). 

2. 

Compliance  with  the  marking  or  description  requirements  provided  for  in 
Article 14(1)(a) shall be verified before: 

(a) 

the identification document is issued in accordance with paragraph 1(a); 

(b) 

the requirements provided for in Article 14(1)(a), (b) and (c) are documented in 
accordance with Article 18(3)(c). 

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Article 32 
Information to be provided by the identification document 

1. 

The  identification  document  referred  to  in  Article  14(1)(c)  shall  provide  the 
following information: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

the characteristics of the mark or the description of the animal as provided for 
in Article 16(2); 

the name and address of the owner or the natural person acting on behalf of and 
in agreement with the owner; 

details of the  preventive health measures for diseases or infections other than 
rabies, where necessary, under Article 18(1); 

(d)  other relevant information regarding the description and the health status of the 

animal. 

The identification document referred to in Article 14(1)(c) shall be supplemented by 
a  written  declaration  signed  by  the  owner  or  the  natural  person  acting  on  behalf  of 
and in agreement with the owner stating that the pet animal is moved into the Union 
for non-commercial purposes. 

Article 33 
Format of the identification document 

The  Commission  shall,  by  means  of  an  implementing  act,  adopt  a  model  of  the 
identification document referred to in Article 14(1)(c) which shall contain entries for 
the  insertion  of  the  information  required  in  accordance  with  Article  32(1).  That 
implementing  act  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  examination  procedure 
referred to in Article 43(2). 

The  implementing  act  referred  to  in  paragraph  1  shall  lay  down  requirements 
concerning the languages, the layout and the validity of the identification document 
referred to in that paragraph. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

CHAPTER VI 
COMMON PROVISIONS 

SECTION 1 
DEROGATION FOR DIRECT NON-COMMERCIAL MOVEMENT OF PET ANIMALS INTO MEMBER 
STATES 

Article 34 
Derogation from the conditions of Articles 5, 9, 10 and 14 

1. 

By way of derogation from the conditions provided for in Articles 5, 9, 10 and 14, 
Member States may authorise the movement for non-commercial purposes into their 
territory of pet animals of the species listed in Annex I which do not comply with the 
conditions laid down in those Articles, provided that: 

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26 

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(a) 

a  prior  application  for  a  permit  has  been  made  by  the  owner  or  the  natural 
person acting on behalf of and in agreement with the owner and the Member 
State of destination has granted such permit; 

(b) 

the  pet  animals  are  quarantined  under  official  supervision  for  the  time 
necessary for them to meet those conditions and not exceeding six months: 

(i) 

at a place approved by the competent authority; 

(ii) 

in accordance with the arrangements prescribed in the permit. 

2. 

The permit referred to in paragraph 1(a) may include an authorisation for transiting 
through another Member State provided that the Member State of transit has given its 
prior agreement to the Member State of destination. 

SECTION 2 
GENERAL CONDITIONS REGARDING COMPLIANCE 

Article 35 
Documentary, identity and physical checks to be carried out on non-commercial 
movements of pet animals into a Member State from another Member State or a third 
country or territory listed pursuant to Article 13(1) 

1. 

2. 

Without  prejudice  to  Article  15,  Member  States  shall  carry  out  targeted  or  random 
documentary  and  identity  checks,  and  where  necessary  physical  checks,  on  pet 
animals  being  moved  for  non-commercial  purposes  into  a  Member  State  from 
another Member State or from a third country or territory listed in the implementing 
act  adopted  pursuant  to  Article  13(1),  to  verify  in  a  non-discriminatory  way 
compliance with Chapter II. 

The owner or a natural person acting on behalf of and in agreement with the owner at 
the  time  of  any  non-commercial  movement  into  a  Member  State  from  another 
Member State or a third country or territory listed pursuant to Article 13(1) shall, at 
the  request  of  the  competent  authority  responsible  for  the  checks  provided  for  in 
paragraph 1 of this Article: 

(a) 

present  the  identification  document  which  demonstrates  compliance  with  the 
requirements for such movement in the format provided for in: 

(i)  Article 22(1), or 

(ii)  Article 23(1); 

(b)  make the pet animal available for those checks. 

EN 

27 

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1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

Article 36 
Documentary, identity and physical checks to be carried out on non-commercial 
movements into a Member State from a third country or territory 

The  non-commercial  movement  of  pet  animals  into  a  Member  State  from  a  third 
country or territory other than those listed in the implementing act adopted pursuant 
to  Article  13(1)  shall  be  subject  to  documentary  and  identity  checks,  and  where 
necessary  physical  checks,  by  the  competent  authority  at  the  travellers’  point  of 
entry. 

The  owner  or  a  or  a  natural  person  acting  on  behalf  of  and  in  agreement  with  the 
owner, at the time of entry into a Member State from a third country or territory other 
than those listed in the implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 13(1), shall at 
the request of the competent authority provided for in paragraph 1: 

(a) 

present  the  identification  document  which  demonstrates  compliance  with  the 
requirements for such movement in the format provided for in: 

(i)  Article 26(1), or 

(ii)  Article 27(b); 

(b)  make the pet animal available for those checks. 

Member States shall draw up and keep up-to-date a list of travellers’ points of entry. 

Member States shall ensure that the competent authority that they have designated to 
carry out checks provided for in paragraph 1: 

(a) 

is fully informed of the rules laid down in Chapter III and the officials of the 
competent authority have the necessary training to implement them; 

(b)  keeps records of the checks that have been carried out; 

(c) 

documents the checks that have been carried out in the identification document 
referred to in: 

(i)  Article 10(e), or 

(ii)  Article 27(b). 

Article 37 
Actions in case of non-compliance with the checks provided for in Articles 35 and 36 

1. 

Where the checks provided for in Articles 35 and 36 reveal that a pet animal does not 
comply with the conditions laid down in Chapters II and III, the competent authority 
shall decide, after consultation with the official veterinarian, to: 

(a) 

return the pet animal to its country or territory of dispatch, or 

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(b) 

(c) 

isolate the pet animal, at the expense of the owner, under official control for the 
time  necessary  for  it  to  comply  with  the  conditions  laid  down  in  Chapters  II 
and III, or 

put  the  pet  animal  down,  without  financial  compensation  to  the  owner  or  the 
natural person acting on behalf of and in agreement with the owner, where its 
return is not possible or isolation is not practical. 

2. 

Where the non-commercial movement of pet animals into the Union is refused by the 
competent authority, they shall be housed under official control pending: 

(a) 

their return to their country or territory of dispatch, or 

(b) 

the adoption of any other administrative decision concerning those pet animals. 

Article 38 
Safeguard measures 

Where rabies occurs or spreads in a Member State, a third country or territory and is liable to 
represent a serious threat to public or animal health, the Commission may, acting on its own 
initiative or at the request of a Member State, adopt one of the following measures, by means 
of an implementing act, without delay and depending on the gravity of the situation: 

(a) 

(b) 

suspend the non-commercial movement or transit of pet animals from all or part of 
the territory of the Member State or third country or territory concerned; 

lay down special conditions in respect of non-commercial movements of pet animals 
coming from all or part of the Member State or third country or territory concerned. 

Those  implementing  acts  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  examination  procedure 
referred to in Article 43(2). 

On duly justified imperative grounds of urgency to contain or address a serious risk to public 
or  animal  health,  the  Commission  shall  adopt  immediately  applicable  implementing  acts  in 
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 43(3). 

Article 39 
Information obligations 

1. 

By  [date  to  be  inserted:  one  year  after  entry  into  force  of  this  Regulation]  at  the 
latest,  Member  States  shall  provide  the  public  with  clear  and  easily  accessible 
information concerning the following: 

(a) 

(b) 

the qualifications required for the implantation of the transponder as provided 
for in Article 17; 

the  authorisation  to  derogate  from  the  anti-rabies  vaccination  condition  for 
young pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I as provided for in 
Articles 6 and 11; 

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(c) 

the conditions applicable to the non-commercial movement into their territory 
of pet animals of the species listed in Annex I: 

(i)  which do not comply with Articles 5, 9, 10 and 14; 

(ii)  which  come  from  certain  countries  and  territories  under  conditions  laid 

down by their national rules as provided for in Article 15; 

the list of travellers’ points of entry as required by Article 36(3), including the 
competent  authority  designated  to  carry  out  the  checks  as  provided  for  in 
Article 36(4); 

the conditions applicable to the non-commercial movement into their territory 
of  pet  animals  of  the  species  listed  in  Part  B  of  Annex  I,  laid  down  by  their 
national rules as provided for in Article 14(2). 

(d) 

(e) 

In order to ensure uniform application of the information requirements provided for 
in paragraph 1, the Commission may adopt implementing acts. Those implementing 
acts  shall  be  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  examination  procedure  referred  to  in 
Article 43(2). 

SECTION 3 
PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS 

Article 40 
Scope of delegated acts 

In  order  to  take  into  account  technical  progress,  scientific  developments  and  the 
protection  of  public  health  or  the  health  of  pet  animals  of  the  species  listed  in 
Annex I, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance 
with Article 41 to amend Annexes II to V to this Regulation. 

In order to avoid commercial movements fraudulently disguised as non-commercial 
movements of pet animals, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated 
acts  in  accordance  with  Article  41  to  lay  down  rules  limiting  the  number  of  pet 
animals of the species listed in Annex I that may accompany the owner or a natural 
person  acting  on  behalf  of  and  in  agreement  with  the  owner  for  a  single  non-
commercial movement. 

Article 41 
Exercise of the delegation 

The  power  to  adopt  delegated  acts  is  conferred  on  the  Commission  subject  to  the 
conditions laid down in this Article. 

The  delegation  of  power  referred  to  in  Article  7(1),  the  second  subparagraph  of 
Article  16(2),  the  first  subparagraph  of  Article  18(1)  and  Article  40  shall  be 
conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from (*). 

2. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

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3. 

4. 

5. 

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

(*)  Date of entry into force of the basic legislative act or any other date set by the 

legislator. 

The  delegation  of  power  referred  to  in  Article  7(1),  the  second  subparagraph  of 
Article 16(2), the first subparagraph of Article 18(1) and Article 40 may be revoked 
at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision of revocation 
shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take 
effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the 
European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of 
any delegated acts already in force. 

As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to 
the European Parliament and to the Council. 

A  delegated  act  adopted  pursuant  to  Article  7(1),  the  second  subparagraph  of 
Article 16(2), the first subparagraph of Article 18(1) and Article 40 shall enter into 
force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or 
by  the  Council  within  a  period  of  two  months  of  notification  of  that  act  to  the 
European  Parliament  and  the  Council  or  if,  before  the  expiry  of  that  period,  the 
European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they 
will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the 
European Parliament or the Council. 

Article 42 
Urgency procedure 

Delegated  acts  adopted  under  this  Article  shall  enter  into  force  without  delay  and 
shall apply as long as no objection is expressed in accordance with paragraph 2. The 
notification  of  a  delegated  act  to  the  European  Parliament  and  to  the  Council  shall 
state the reasons for the use of the urgency procedure. 

Either  the  European  Parliament  or  the  Council  may  object  to  a  delegated  act  in 
accordance  with  the  procedure  referred  to  in  Article  41(5).  In  such  a  case,  the 
Commission  shall  repeal  the  act  without  delay  following  the  notification  of  the 
decision to object by the European Parliament or by the Council. 

Article 43  
Committee procedure 

The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and 
Animal  Health  established  by  Article  58  of  Regulation  (EC)  No  178/2002.  That 
committee  shall  be  a  committee  within  the  meaning  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 
182/2011. 

Where  reference  is  made  to  this  paragraph,  Article  5  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 
182/2011 shall apply. 

Where  the  opinion  of  the  committee  is  to  be  obtained  by  written  procedure,  that 
procedure shall be terminated without result when, within the time-limit for delivery 

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of  the  opinion,  the  chair  of  the  committee  so  decides  or  a  simple  majority  of 
committee members so requests. 

3. 

Where  reference  is  made  to  this  paragraph,  Article  8  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 
182/2011, in conjunction with Article 5 thereof, shall apply. 

Article 44 
Penalties 

The Member States shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this 
Regulation  and  shall  take  all  measures  necessary  to  ensure  that  they  are  implemented.  The 
penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. 

The Member States shall notify those provisions to the Commission by [date to be inserted: 
one year after entry into force of this Regulation] at the latest and shall notify it without delay 
of any subsequent amendments affecting them. 

CHAPTER VII 
TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 

Article 45 
Repeal 

1. 

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 shall be repealed with effect from [date to be inserted: 
one year after entry into force of this Regulation]. 

References in this Regulation to the list in the implementing act adopted pursuant to 
Article 13(1) or (2) shall be construed as references to the list of third countries and 
territories set out in Section 2 of Part B or in Part C of Annex II to Regulation (EC) 
No 998/2003 until the entry into force of that implementing act. 

2. 

References  to  the  repealed  Regulation  shall  be  construed  as  references  to  this 
Regulation and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex VI. 

Article 46 
Transitional measures regarding identification documents 

1. 

By  way  of  derogation  from  Article  22(1),  the  identification  document  shall  be 
deemed to comply with this Regulation where: 

(a) 

(b) 

it is drawn up in accordance with the model passport established by Decision 
2003/803/EC; 

it has been issued not later than one year from the date of entry into force of the 
implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 22(1). 

2. 

By  way  of  derogation  from  Article  26(1),  the  identification  document  shall  be 
deemed to comply with this Regulation where: 

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(a) 

(b) 

it is drawn up in accordance with the model certificate set out in Annex II to 
Decision 2011/874/EU; 

it has been issued not later than one year from the date of entry into force of the 
implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 26(1). 

Article 47 
Entry into force and applicability 

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

It  shall  apply  from  xxxx  [date  to  be  inserted:  one  year  after  entry  into  force  of  this 
Regulation]. 

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 

Done at Brussels,  

For the European Parliament 
The President 

For the Council 
The President 

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ANNEX I 

Species of pet animals 

PART A 

Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) 
Cats (Felis silvestris catus) 
Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) 

PART B 

Invertebrates  (except  bees  and  bumble  bees  falling  within  the  scope  of  Directive 
92/65/EEC  and  molluscs  and  crustaceans  falling  within  the  scope  of  Directive 
2006/88/EC) 
Ornamental  aquatic  animals  reared  in  non-commercial  aquaria  (excluded  from  the 
scope of Directive 2006/88/EC) 
Amphibia 
Reptiles 
Birds:  all  species  of  birds  except  poultry  falling  within  the  scope  of  Directives 
92/65/EEC and 2009/158/EC) 
Mammals: rodents and domestic rabbits. 

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ANNEX II 

List of Member States as defined in Article 3(f) 

Country code 

Country 

Included territories 

BE 

BG 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

EL 

ES 

FR 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

MT 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SI 

SK 

FI 

SE 

UK 

GI 

The Faroe Islands and Greenland 

The  Balearic  Islands,  the  Canary  Islands,  Ceuta  and 
Melilla 

French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion 

The Azores and Madeira  

Belgium 

Bulgaria 

Czech Republic 

Denmark 

Germany 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

Netherlands  

Austria 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 

United Kingdom 

The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man 

Gibraltar 

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ANNEX III 

Technical requirements for transponders 

The transponder shall be a read-only passive radio frequency identification device: 

(a) 

(b) 

complying with ISO Standard 11784 and applying HDX or FDX-B technology; 

capable of being read by a reading device compatible with ISO Standard 11785. 

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ANNEX IV 

Validity requirements for anti-rabies vaccinations 

1. 

The anti-rabies vaccine must: 

(a) 

be  a  vaccine  other  than  a  live  modified  vaccine  and  fall  within  one  of  the 
following categories: 

(i) 

an  inactivated  vaccine  of  at  least  one  antigenic  unit  per  dose 
(recommendation from the World Health Organisation), or 

(ii) 

a  recombinant  vaccine  expressing  the  immunising  glycoprotein  of  the 
rabies virus in a live virus vector; 

(b)  where  it  is  administered  in  a  Member  State,  it  must  have  been  granted  a 

marketing authorisation in accordance with: 

(i)  Article 5 of Directive 2001/82/EC, or 

(ii)  Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004; 

(c)  where  it  is  administered  in  a  third  country,  it  must  have  been  granted  an 
approval  or  a  licence  by  the  competent  authority  and  meet  at  least  the 
requirements laid down in the relevant part of the Chapter concerning rabies in 
the  Manual  of  Diagnostic  Tests  and  Vaccines  for  Terrestrial  Animals  of  the 
World Organisation for Animal Health. 

2. 

An anti-rabies vaccination must meet the following conditions: 

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

the  vaccine  was  administered  by  a  veterinarian  authorised  by  the  competent 
authority; 

the  date  of  administration  is  indicated  by  a  veterinarian  authorised  by  the 
competent authority in the appropriate section of the identification document in 
the format provided for in Article 22(1) or Article 26(1); 

the date of administration referred to in point (b) does not precede the date of 
microchipping  or  tattooing  indicated  in  the  appropriate  section  of  the 
identification  document  in  the  format  provided  for  in  Article  22(1)  or  Article 
26(1); 

(d) 

the  period  of  validity  of  the  vaccination  is  indicated  by  the  authorised 
veterinarian  in  the  appropriate  section  of  the  identification  document  in  the 
format provided for in Article 22(1) or Article 26(1). 

It starts from the establishment of protective immunity, which shall not be less 
than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol required by the 
manufacturer  for  the  primary  vaccination,  and  continues  until  the  end  of  the 
period  of  protective  immunity,  as  prescribed  in  the  technical  specification  of 
the marketing authorisation referred to in point 1(b) or the approval or licence 

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referred to in point 1(c) for the anti-rabies vaccine in the Member State or third 
country or territory where the vaccine is administered; 

(e) 

a revaccination must be considered a primary vaccination if it was not carried 
out  within  the  period  of  validity  referred  to  in  point  (d)  of  the  previous 
vaccination. 

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ANNEX V 

Validity requirements for the rabies antibody titration test 

1. 

The  collection  of  the  sample  of  blood  necessary  to  carry  out  the  rabies  antibody 
titration test must be carried out and documented by a veterinarian authorised by the 
competent authority in the appropriate section of the identification document in the 
format provided for in Article 22(1) or Article 26(1); 

2. 

The rabies antibody titration test must: 

(a) 

be  carried  out  on  a  sample  collected  at  least  30  days  after  the  date  of 
vaccination and 

(i) 

not less than three months before the date of: 

the  non-commercial  movement  from  a  third  country  or  territory 
other than those listed in the implementing acts adopted pursuant to 
Article 13, or 

the  transit  through  such  third  country  or  territory,  where  the 
conditions laid down in Article 12(b) are not fulfilled; 

– 

– 

or 

(ii)  before the pet animal left the Union for a movement to or transit through 
a  third  country  or  territory  other  than  those  listed  in  the  implementing 
acts  adopted  pursuant  to  Article  13;  the  identification  document  in  the 
format provided for in Article 22(1) must confirm that a rabies antibody 
titration  test  was  carried  out  with  a  favourable  result  before  the  date  of 
movement; 

(b)  measure  a  level  of  neutralising  antibody  to  rabies  virus  in  serum  equal  to  or 
greater than 0.5 IU/ml and using a method prescribed in the relevant part of the 
Chapter concerning rabies in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for 
Terrestrial Animals of the World Organisation for Animal Health; 

(c) 

be performed in a laboratory approved in accordance with Article 3 of Decision 
2000/258/EC; 

(d)  not  be  renewed  following  a  satisfactory  result  described  in  point  (b)  of  this 
Annex, provided that the animal is revaccinated in accordance with point 2(e) 
of Annex IV. 

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ANNEX VI 

Correlation table 
[referred to in Article 45(2)] 

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 

This Regulation 

Article 1 
First paragraph of Article 2  
Second paragraph of Article 2  
Third paragraph of Article 2  
Point (a) of Article 3  
Point (b) of Article 3 
Point (c) of Article 3  
Introductory  phrase  of  the  first  subparagraph 
of Article 4(1) 
Points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph of 
Article 4(1) 
Second subparagraph of Article 4(1)  
Article 4(2) 
Article 4(3) 
Article 4(4) 
Article 5(1)(a) 
Introductory phrase of Article 5(1)(b)  
Article 5(1)(b)(i) 
Article 5(1)(b)(ii) 
Second subparagraph of Article 5(1)  
Article 5(2) 
Article 6 
Article 7 
Article 8(1)(a)(i) 
Article 8(1)(a)(ii) 
Article 8(1)(b)(i) 
Article 8(1)(b)(ii) 
Article 8(2) 
Article 8(3)(a) 
Article 8(3)(b) 
Article 8(3)(c) 
Article 8(4) 
Article 9 
Article 10  

Article 1 
Article 2(1) 
Article 2(2)(a) 
Article 2(2)(b) 
Article 3(b)  
Article 3(e)  
Article 3(a)  
--- 

First subparagraph of Article 16(1) 

Second subparagraph of Article 16(1) 
Article 21(1)(b)  
--- 
--- 
Article 5(a) 
Article 5(d) 
Article 5(b) 
Article 5(c) 
Article 18 
Article 6 
--- 
Articles 9 and 14, Article 30(1) and Article 40 
Articles 10 and 12 
--- 
Article 10 
--- 
Article 10(e) and Article 27 
Article 13(1) 
Article 15 
Article 11 
Article 26(1) 
Article 14 and Article 33(1) 
Article 13(2) and (3)  

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First sentence of Article 11 
Second sentence of Article 11 
First subparagraph of Article 12 
Second subparagraph of Article 12 
Article 13 
First paragraph of Article 14 
Second paragraph of Article 14 
Third paragraph of Article 14 
Fourth paragraph of Article 14  
Article 15 
Article 16 
First paragraph of Article 17 
Second paragraph of Article 17  
First paragraph of Article 18  
Second paragraph of Article 18  
Article 19 
Article 19a(1) and (2) 
Article 19a(3) 
Article 19b(1) 
Article 19b(2) 
Article 19b(3) 
Article 19c(1) and (3) 
Article 19c(2) 
Article 19d(1) and Article 19d(2) 
Article 19d(3) 
Articles 20 to 23 
Article 24(1), (2) and (3) 
Article 24(4) and (5) 
Article 25  
Annex I 
Annex Ia 
Annex Ib 
Part A and Section 1 of Part B of Annex II 
Section 2 of Part B of Annex II  
Part C of Annex II 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 

Article 39(1) 
Article 36(3)(a)  
Article 36(1) 
Article 36(4)  
Article 36(3) and Article 39(1)(d) 
Article 35(2) and Article 36(2) 
Second subparagraph of Article 16(1) 
Article 37(1) 
Article 37(2) 
Paragraph 2(c) of Annex V 
--- 
--- 
Article 22(1) 
--- 
Article 38 
Article 13 and 40 and Article 43(2) 
Article 40(1) 
--- 
Article 41(1) and (2)  
Article 41(4)  
--- 
Article 41(3)  
---  
Article 41(5)  
--- 
--- 
Article 43(1), (2) and (3) 
--- 
Article 47 
Annex I 
Annex III 
Annex IV 
Annex II 
[Article 13(1)] 
[Article 13(2)] 
Article 3(c), (d), (f) and (g)  
Article 4 
Article 7 
Article 8 

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--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 

--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 

--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 

--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 
--- 

Article 16(2) 
Article 17 
Article 19 
Article 20 
Article  21(1)(a)  and  (c)  to  (f)  and  Article 
21(2) 
Article 22(2) 
Article 23 
Article 24 
Article  25(1)(a)  and  (c)  to  (f)  and  Article 
25(2) 
Article 26(2) 
Article 27 
Article 28  
Article 29 
Article 24 
Article 25 
Article 26 
Article 27 
Article 28 
Article 29 
Article 30(2) 
Article 31 
Article 32 
Article 33(2) 
Article 34 
Article 35 
Article  39(1)(a),  (b),  (c),  and  (e)  and  Article 
39(2) 
Article 42 
Article 44 
Article 45 
Article 46 
Annex V 
Annex VI 

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