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Document 32020R0692

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin (Text with EEA relevance) (Text with EEA relevance)

OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 379–520 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

Legal status of the document In force: This act has been changed. Current consolidated version: 07/02/2023

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2020/692/oj

3.6.2020   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 174/379


COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2020/692

of 30 January 2020

supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (1), and in particular Articles 234(2), 237(4) and 239(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Union legislation in the area of animal health was recently updated by the adoption of the ‘Animal Health Law’. That Regulation, which came into force on 20 April 2016, and which applies from 21 April 2021, repealed and replaced around 40 basic acts. It also requires the adoption of many Commission delegated and implementing regulations to repeal and replace around 400 Commission acts that existed in the area of animal health before the new legal framework established by the ‘Animal Health Law’.

(2)

Trading conditions have evolved since the adoption of the first animal health rules at Union level, with the volume of trade in animals, germinal products and products of animal origin increasing significantly, both within the Union and with third countries. During the same period, as a result of Union animal health policies and rules, certain diseases have been eradicated in the Union and other diseases have been prevented or controlled in many Member States. However, on several occasions, emerging diseases have posed new challenges for the Union animal health status, trade and the local economy in the areas affected by those diseases.

(3)

The rules laid down in this act, supplement those already laid down in the ‘Animal Health Law’. They should provide the necessary guarantees to ensure that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin entering the Union do not present an animal health risk for kept and wild animals that could jeopardise the Union health status as regards animal diseases and have a detrimental economic impact on the sectors involved.

(4)

Article 234 of the ‘Animal Health Law’ provides that pending the adoption of delegated acts laying down animal health requirements as regards a particular species and category of animal, germinal product or product of animal origin, Member States may, following evaluation of the risks involved, apply national rules if they comply with certain requirements laid down in that Regulation. Therefore, the entry into the Union of species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin not covered by this Regulation may be subject to such national rules applied by Member States.

(5)

The existing animal health rules, laid down in previous Commission acts concerning the entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin have proved to be effective, therefore the aim and substance of those existing rules should be maintained in this Regulation, but updated to take account of the rules on better regulation, of the new animal health framework laid down in the ‘Animal Health Law’ and of newly available scientific knowledge, international standards and experience in applying previous Union acts.

(6)

To avoid unnecessary trade disruptions, the animal health requirements for entry into the Union of consignments falling within the scope of this Regulation should ensure a smooth transition from the requirements laid down in pre-existing Union acts.

(7)

The ‘Animal Health Law’ lays down rules for the prevention and control of animal diseases transmissible to animals or to humans. In particular, Chapter 1 of Part V of that Regulation, which lays down the animal health requirements for entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, provides for the Commission to adopt delegated acts to supplement the animal health requirements already laid down in it.

(8)

Article 229(1) of the ‘Animal Health Law’ lays down the requirements under which Member States are to permit the entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin. The requirements cover conditions concerning the third country or territory of origin, the establishment of origin, the animal health requirements that those consignments are required to comply with, as well as the animal health certificate, declarations or other document that should accompany such consignments.

(9)

In addition, Article 234(1) of the ‘Animal Health Law’ stipulates that the animal health requirements for entry into the Union of consignments of species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories or zones thereof must be at least as stringent as those laid down in that Regulation, and in delegated acts adopted pursuant to it, applicable to movements within the Union of those species and categories of those commodities. If the requirements are not as stringent as those in the Regulation, they must offer equivalent guarantees to the animal health requirements provided for in Part IV of that Regulation.

(10)

Article 234(2) of the ‘Animal Health Law’ provides for delegated acts to be adopted to supplement the rules laid down in that Regulation, as regards the animal health requirements for entry into the Union of species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries and territories, and for the movement within the Union and handling of those commodities after their entry into the Union, in order to mitigate the possible risks involved.

(11)

Article 237(1) of the ‘Animal Health Law’ provides that Member States are only to permit the entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin if such consignments are accompanied by the animal health certificates and the declarations or other documents required under that Regulation. Article 237(2) of that Regulation stipulates that the animal health certificate must have been verified and signed by an official veterinarian in the third country or territory of origin. In this context, Article 237(4) of the ‘Animal Health Law’ provides for the Commission to adopt delegated acts concerning derogations from the animal health certificate requirements laid down in Article 237(1) and Article 237(2) of that Regulation, and to lay down rules requiring such consignments to be accompanied by declarations or other documents.

(12)

Article 239(2) of the ‘Animal Health Law’ provides for the Commission to adopt delegated acts concerning special rules and additional requirements for certain specific types of entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, and provides for derogations from the general animal health requirements laid down in Articles 229(1) and 237(1) of that Regulation, and in the supplementing rules laid down in delegated acts adopted pursuant to Articles 234(2) and 237(4) thereof.

(13)

The supplementing rules to be laid down in this Regulation pursuant to Articles 234(2) and 239(2) of the ‘Animal Health Law’ are interrelated. Article 234(2) provides for the Commission to lay down the general requirements for entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, while Article 239(2) provides for the Commission to lay down the special rules and additional requirements for derogations from those general requirements.

(14)

The animal health certificate requirements provided for in Article 237 of the ‘Animal Health Law’ are part of the framework of rules relating to the entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin. The empowerment granted to the Commission under Article 237(4) of that Regulation to grant derogations from the animal health requirements is part of that general framework of rules.

(15)

The ‘Animal Health Law’ already provides a number of definitions. In addition, this Regulation should also have regard to the definitions laid down in other Union acts in the related areas of food hygiene and official controls, such as the definitions laid down in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (2). However, for the purpose of laying down the animal health requirements for entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin it is appropriate to include particular definitions, including definitions for certain categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin. These definitions are needed to clarify which categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin represent an animal health risk and are therefore subject to the animal health requirements for entry into the Union.

(16)

In the interests of consistency of Union legislation, and based on the animal health risk they represent, the definition for ‘fresh meat’ for the purpose of this Regulation should incorporate the definitions for ‘fresh meat’, ‘minced meat’ and ‘meat preparations’ laid down in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.

(17)

In addition, the definition for ‘meat products’ for the purpose of this Regulation should incorporate the definitions for ‘meat products’, ‘treated stomachs’, ‘bladders’, ‘intestines’, ‘rendered animal fats’ and ‘meat extracts’ laid down in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. This is because from an animal health point of view, all of those commodities represent the same animal health risk and should be subjected to the same risk-mitigating measures.

(18)

The definition for ‘carcase’ laid down in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 should be adapted to define ‘carcase of an ungulate’ in order to differentiate it from ‘offal’. This is because those two commodities represent different animal health risks, with ‘offal’ representing a higher risk.

(19)

‘Casings’ should be defined in this Regulation and that definition should take into account the definition included in the glossary of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The definition should clarify which products of animal origin must be considered as casings and therefore undergo the specific risk-mitigating treatments provided for in this Regulation.

(20)

Article 229(1) of the ‘Animal Health Law’ provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin are only to be permitted to enter into the Union if they come from third countries or territories listed for entry into the Union of the particular species and category of animals, germinal products or products of animal origin, in accordance with the criteria laid down in Article 230(1), and if the consignments comply with the animal health requirements provided for in Article 234 and subsequent delegated acts. This Regulation should make it the responsibility of the competent authority to verify that such consignments entering the Union comply with those requirements.

(21)

Article 237(1) the ‘Animal Health Law’ provides that the entry into the Union of consignments of species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories is only to be permitted where those consignments are accompanied either by an animal health certificate, issued by the competent authority of the third country or territory, or by declarations or other documents, or by all of those documents. This Regulation should, therefore, clarify which documents are required in each case and should make it the responsibility of the competent authority to verify that such consignments entering the Union comply with that general requirement.

(22)

The information to be contained in the animal health certificates, declarations and other documents accompanying consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin must accurately reflect whether or not those consignments comply with the general requirements provided for in the ‘Animal Health Law’ and the relevant requirements laid down in this Regulation. This Regulation should, therefore, lay down the obligations for operators responsible for entry into the Union of such consignments and for the competent authorities of the Member State of entry into the Union, as regards the validity of the documents accompanying the consignments and the eligibility of such consignments to enter the Union.

(23)

Taking into account animal health risks such as incubation periods for diseases, and in order to avoid the misuse of animal health certificates, it is necessary to establish a time limit for the validity of those certificates only in the case of animals and hatching eggs. This is because these pose a higher animal health risk than products of animal origin, which may have undergone risk-mitigating measures, and germinal products which are transported frozen in closed and sealed containers. However, as the transport by sea of live animals and hatching eggs may take long time, the validity period of the certificate in this case should be extended provided that certain risk-mitigating measures have been taken.

(24)

The animal health requirements that need to be complied with, and the guarantees to be provided by third countries and territories, for entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin depend on the diseases listed in Article 5 and in Annex II to the ‘Animal Health Law’ and their categorisation as provided for in Article 9(1) of that Regulation and in the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (3). That Regulation lays down the definitions of category A, B, C, D and E diseases and states that the disease prevention and control rules for the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 are to be applied to listed species and groups of listed species referred to in its Annex.

(25)

Chapter 1 of Part II of the ‘Animal Health Law’ lays down the rules on disease notification and reporting to ensure early detection and effective disease control in the Union. This Regulation should specify the details on the notification and reporting systems to be in place in the third countries or territories to guarantee equivalent systems to those implemented in the Union, including the diseases that should be notifiable and reportable. In this sense, while live animals can transmit the diseases for which they are a listed species in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882, not all products of animal origin and germinal products obtained from those animals can transmit all those diseases. This Regulation should clarify which are the animal diseases of concern and therefore notifiable and reportable for each particular species and category of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin intended for entry into the Union.

(26)

The animal health requirements laid down in this Regulation should be based on different levels of protection from the animal health risks. The different requirements vary depending on whether they relate to a third country of origin, to a territory of origin, to a zone within that third country or territory, to a compartment within that third country or territory in the case of aquaculture animals, to the establishment of origin of the animals or the products of animal origin, or to the establishment or centre for collection of germinal products.

(27)

Disease surveillance and traceability in the establishments are key elements of the disease control policy in the Union. This Regulation should include certain basic requirements on traceability and animal health visits in the establishments of origin of the animals intended for entry into the Union, and in the establishment of origin of the animals from which the germinal products and products of animal origin intended for entry into the Union were obtained. These requirements should be equivalent to those laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and in delegated and implementing acts adopted pursuant to that Regulation.

(28)

Furthermore, where a certain type of establishment keeping animals or germinal products in a third country or territory poses a particular animal health risk, it should obtain specific approval by the competent authority in the third country or territory in order to export to the Union, providing equivalent guarantees as those provided in Articles 92 to 100 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 for certain establishments in the Union.

(29)

Consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin intended for entry into the Union should not be considered as representing an animal health risk in their country or territory of origin and should not be subject to national eradication programmes or any other national restrictions based on animal health concerns.

(30)

The animal health requirements for entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin must provide effective protection against the introduction and spread of transmissible animal diseases in the Union. The entry into the Union of those consignments should not be permitted from third countries or territories or zones or in the case of aquaculture animals, compartments thereof, infected with certain listed diseases for which the Union has disease-free status, and which consequently present a serious risk for the health of animals within the Union.

(31)

It is for the Union to assess whether a third country, territory or zone or, in the case of aquaculture animals, compartment of origin is free from a specific disease. The Union’s assessment should be based on information related to disease surveillance provided by the competent authority of the third country or territory, and taking into account Union animal health rules as provided for in Part II of the ‘Animal Health Law’ and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 (4). Specific conditions for certain diseases and circumstances may be required as additional risk-mitigating measures.

(32)

The freedom from a particular disease of a third country or territory or zone thereof must be based on internationally recognised diagnostic tests and methods performed under the same standards and procedures as those applied within the Union.

(33)

It is necessary to ensure that the health status of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin intended for entry into the Union complies with the guarantees provided by the third country, territory or zone of origin. This Regulation should therefore provide for a minimum residency period for animals in the third country, territory, zone or establishment of origin, and a minimum period without contact with commodities of a lower health status, before being dispatched to the Union. The length of the minimum period of residency should take into account the incubation period of relevant diseases, and the intended destination and use of the animals, germinal products and products of animal origin.

(34)

In the case of dogs, cats and ferrets, the residency period is unnecessary as vaccination against rabies, the disease of greatest concern for those species, is required in all cases. Registered horses intended for competitions, races and equestrian cultural events should also be exempted from certain requirements as regards the residency period, if they comply with additional guarantees. This exemption is based on the expectation that such horses will have a high level of health.

(35)

The health status of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin intended for entry into the Union may be jeopardised during transport from the place of origin to the place of entry into the Union if they enter into contact with animals or products not complying with the same requirements or if they transit through third countries, territories or zones with a lower health status than the country or territory of origin or zone thereof. Therefore certain preventive measures should be applied in order to preserve their health status.

(36)

To ensure that only healthy animals are dispatched to the Union, animals in consignments should undergo an clinical inspection carried out by an official veterinarian before they are dispatched. The time frame for performing this inspection should be adapted for certain species and their inherent risk.

(37)

Terrestrial animals, hatching eggs and aquatic animals intended for entry into the Union should only be transported through, or unloaded in, third countries, territories or zones also listed for entry into the Union of the same species and categories of animals and hatching eggs. Those countries, territories or zones’ inclusion on the list indicates that they provide equivalent animal health guarantees as the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof.

(38)

The transport of terrestrial animals and hatching eggs by means of aircraft or vessel could encounter unforeseen events such as mechanical problems in the means of transport, strikes in airports and seaports or unforeseen delays. It is therefore appropriate to provide for derogations in those cases where guarantees can be given. This will allow the transport of the terrestrial animals and hatching eggs to the Union to continue, while ensuring the health status of those commodities and preventing additional animal health risks.

(39)

In the case of equine animals, as transhipments and stopovers in non-listed countries are part of the usual transport operations, they should be allowed under certain preventive measures.

(40)

Cleaning and disinfection of means of transport is a key activity to prevent the risk of spreading animal diseases. When transporting consignments of live animals destined for the Union, cleaning and disinfection of means of transport should be carried out immediately before the loading of the animals for their dispatch to the Union.

(41)

Assembly operations of animals in third countries or territories of origin may pose an additional risk to the health status of animals intended for entry into the Union, as a result of the animals mixing with and coming into contact with animals of different origins. Therefore, the number, duration of such operations and species allowed to undergo them should be limited to a minimum and to those species with reliable traceability systems.

(42)

In addition to general animal health requirements, it is necessary to provide specific requirements taking into account the animal health risks linked to the different species and categories of terrestrial animals falling within the scope of this Regulation.

(43)

Different species of ungulates, as defined in the ‘Animal Health Law’, are listed as susceptible species for different listed diseases in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882. Listed diseases are also set out in different categories for different species of ungulates in the same Regulation. Therefore this Regulation should clearly establish the specific requirements and guarantees in relation to listed diseases for the different species and categories of ungulates.

(44)

To prevent the occurrence of category A diseases, from which the Union is considered free, the general requirement for the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof of ungulates should be an equivalent freedom from disease for a period of time that guarantees that the entry of animals from the third country, territory or zone does not jeopardise the Union’s disease freedom. For category B diseases, for which the Union has compulsory eradication programmes, this Regulation should provide for risk-mitigating measures where the third country or territory of origin is not completely free of such diseases.

(45)

Where consignments of ungulates are intended for entry into Member States which are officially disease-free, or which have an approved eradication programme for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis, bovine viral diarrhoea or infection with Aujeszky’s disease virus, those consignments should comply with additional requirements to ensure that the animals do not jeopardise the health status of those specific Member States as regards those diseases.

(46)

Special rules as regards the third country or territory of origin and additional animal health requirements should apply where ungulates originate from a confined establishment and are intended for entry into a confined establishment in the Union. The special rules should take into account the specificity of those confined establishments and the specific conditions they comply with in order to be approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin and by the competent authority of the Member States of destination.

(47)

The confined establishment of origin could be located in a third country or territory which is not listed for entry into the Union of the specific species of ungulates. However, the national legislation and the veterinary services of the third country or territory will need to have been assessed. In addition, the establishment of origin should comply with additional requirements as regards disease surveillance, veterinary supervision, record keeping and operations. To ensure that those guarantees can be provided, this Regulation should lay down specific conditions for the approval of those confined establishments by the competent authority in the third country or territory. A list of such confined establishments should be drawn up by the Member State of destination, following the favourable outcome of a risk assessment by the competent authority in that Member State of all relevant information provided by the establishment as regards the animal health risks involved.

(48)

Specific animal health requirements should apply for entry into the Union of poultry and captive birds to address the particular risks posed by the relevant listed diseases for those animals. These requirements should take account of the category, species and intended use of poultry and captive birds, and provide effective protection against the spread into the Union of diseases of concern from third countries or territories.

(49)

To facilitate the trade of consignments of small amounts of poultry, specific requirements and derogations should be established for consignments with less than 20 heads of poultry other than ratites.

(50)

Taking into account the activities and animal health risks associated with captive birds, consignments of those animals should only be permitted to enter the Union if they come from establishments approved by the competent authorities in the third country or territory of origin of the captive birds or zone thereof. The captive birds should be quarantined upon their arrival in the Union in order to confirm the absence of any disease of concern.

(51)

In addition, where consignments of birds and hatching eggs are intended for Member States with status free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination, such consignments should comply with additional requirements to ensure that those consignments do not jeopardise the health status for that disease of those specific Member States.

(52)

The infestation with the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) is one of the diseases of most concern for bees. It is largely exotic to the Union but has spread globally in recent decades, creating serious problems for the apiculture industry and potentially also affecting bumble bees. Tropilaelaps mites (Tropilaelaps spp.) are potentially devastating pathogens of honeybees. They are also exotic to the Union. Effective and safe treatments against these diseases are at present not available. If these diseases entered the Union by entering consignments, they would pose a risk to the sustainability of the apiculture sector and beyond, potentially affecting agriculture and the environment which benefits from pollination services by kept and wild bees.

(53)

American foulbrood occasionally occurs in the Union but is controlled with regard to trade of honeybees, while certain areas in the Union have been recognised as free of Varroa mites and protected by additional trade guarantees to keep places of destination in the Union safe. Rules at Union level have been and remain essential to mitigate the risk of entry into the Union of the above pathogens as associated with consignments of honeybees and bumble bees. Therefore such rules should be laid down in this Regulation.

(54)

Only queen honeybees without a brood and accompanied by a small number of attendants in single queen cages can be easily checked for infestation with small hive beetle or with Tropilaelaps mites, therefore the entry into the Union of honeybees should be limited to such consignments.

(55)

Colonies of bumble bees bred and reared in environmentally isolated establishments are often traded for the horticultural industry. Given the commonly used facilities, procedures and closed containers used for the shipped colonies, the entry into the Union of bumble bees (Bombus spp.) should be permitted only for colonies that are bred, reared and packaged solely under environmentally controlled conditions in establishments and which can be checked to ensure that they are free of the small hive beetle.

(56)

Because of its potential effects on humans and animals, rabies is the listed disease of most concern in the Union affecting dogs, cats and ferrets. Member States are therefore required to carry out a compulsory eradication programme against rabies infection in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689. To prevent any possibility of rabies being introduced into the Union, vaccination should be required for all consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets entering it, taking into account the availability and effectiveness of existing vaccines against the disease.

(57)

Dogs intended for entry into a Member State with disease-free status or with an approved eradication programme for Echinococcus multilocularis should comply with additional requirements to ensure the protection of that status in those Member States. In this regard, a preventive treatment should be applied to such dogs before they enter the Union. However, where dogs, cats and ferrets are intended for a confined establishment in the Union, special rules as regards rabies and infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis and additional animal health requirements should apply, taking into account the specificity of such establishments’ activities and the specific conditions under which animals are kept in them.

(58)

Germinal products may pose a significant risk for the spread of animal diseases. This is particularly true for semen, but also to a less extent to oocytes and embryos. As germinal products are collected or produced from a limited number of donors but used widely in the general animal population they can, if not handled properly or not classified with the correct health status, be a source of diseases for many animals. Such cases have occurred in the past and have caused substantial economic losses. Therefore, animal health requirements need to be put in place for entry into the Union of germinal products of certain kept terrestrial animals.

(59)

The requirements for entry into the Union of germinal products of ungulates should be based on the requirements for entry into the Union of live animals.

(60)

Specific requirements for germinal product establishments where germinal products of ungulates eligible for entry into the Union are collected, produced, processed and stored should reflect those established for the movements within the Union. The same approach applies to the traceability and animal health requirements for germinal products.

(61)

Due to the need to move germinal products from confined establishments located in third countries to confined establishments located in the Union, this Regulation should lay down special traceability and animal health requirements for such entry.

(62)

Animal health requirements for entry into the Union of hatching eggs should address the risks as regards listed diseases that the different categories of hatching eggs could introduce into the Union. Therefore such requirements should correspond to those for entry into the Union of the respective species or categories of birds.

(63)

Where hatching eggs of poultry are intended for entry into Member States with status-free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination, the eggs should comply with additional requirements to ensure that they do not jeopardise the status of those specific Member States.

(64)

Products of animal origin can transmit disease agents to animals and products. The animal health risk linked to fresh and raw products of animal origin is obviously higher that those that have been processed and treated. Therefore the animal health requirements for the third country or territory of origin of fresh meat, raw milk, colostrum and colostrum-based products should be stricter than those for meat products and dairy products. However, the treatment applied to those treated products needs to be effective in order to mitigate the risk they pose depending on the species of origin of the product and the country or territory of origin.

(65)

The risk-mitigating treatments applicable for products of animal origin originating in restricted zones established in the event of confirmation of category A diseases in the Union are laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (5), based on the available scientific knowledge and experience gained in the application of previous legislation. Therefore, the same risk-mitigating treatments should apply to those products originating in third countries, territories or zones thereof posing an equivalent animal health risk.

(66)

The risks linked to fresh meat entering the Union should be mitigated by requirements on the freedom from diseases of the third country or territory of origin and by requirements on animal diseases for the live animals from which the meat is obtained, on the dispatch of the kept animals to slaughter, on slaughter and killing operations, and on handling and preparation operations.

(67)

Fresh meat of terrestrial animals can be obtained from kept animals, including farmed game as defined in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, and from wild animals. However, in the Union, meat obtained from animals kept as production animals, particularly, animals belonging to the species Bos taurus, Capra hirchus, Ovis aries and Sus scrofa, must be obtained in a slaughterhouse. To provide adequate and equivalent guarantees, it is therefore appropriate to exclude those species from the possibility to be categorised as farmed game or wild animals when fresh meat intended for entry into the Union originates from them.

(68)

When an outbreak of a relevant animal disease occurs in a third country or territory, the date and location of slaughter of kept animals or the date of killing of wild animals or farmed game are key to establishing the possible animal health risks associated with those animals and products of animal origin obtained from them. Therefore, the date of slaughter or killing needs to be established, in order to verify that the animals have been slaughtered or killed in a period of time without outbreaks of disease and when the third country or territory was listed as being authorised to enter fresh meat into the Union.

(69)

The type of treatment to be applied to products of animal origin should be in line with the risk posed by the third country or territory or zone thereof manufacturing the product. Entry into the Union of processed products of animal origin which have undergone treatments whose effectiveness in eliminating the risks linked to the listed diseases of concern for the particular category of product of animal origin has not been proven, should only be authorised from third countries or territories or zones thereof that provide all guarantees of freedom from the relevant diseases. For third countries or territories or zones thereof that do not provide all those guarantees, the entry into the Union of products of animal origin should be permitted only if those products have undergone a specific treatment.

(70)

In some cases, a third country or territory or zone thereof will source raw meat to produce meat products from a third country or territory or zone thereof listed for entry into the Union of meat products of the relevant species subject to a specific treatment. In such cases, the meat product should always undergo the most severe specific treatment in order to mitigate all possible animal health risks.

(71)

Meat products containing poultry meat from a third country or territory or zone thereof where there has been an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or infection with Newcastle disease virus should undergo a treatment that is effective at mitigating the risk in the third country or territory or zone thereof listed for entry into the Union. In this way, trade can be allowed to continue before measures for control such as regionalisation are implemented. The immediate application of a risk-mitigating treatment after an outbreak decreases the animal health risks and at the same time reduces the impact on trade.

(72)

When meat products are manufactured from fresh meat from different species the treatment applied should eliminate any possible animal health risks. Therefore, if the treatment is applied before mixing, the different types of fresh meat should receive the relevant treatment assigned to the species of origin of the fresh meat. However, if the treatment is applied after mixing, the final meat product should undergo the treatment assigned to the fresh meat ingredient with the highest animal health risk.

(73)

Treatments to mitigate specific animal health risks linked to the entry of casings should be reviewed and updated taking into account the conclusions and recommendations of the latest scientific evidence assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (6).

(74)

The conditions for entry into the Union of raw milk, dairy products, colostrum and colostrum-based products are based on the animal health risks represented by these products. Such risks are linked to the country or territory of origin or zone thereof and to the species of animals from which they were obtained. Foot and mouth disease and infection with rinderpest virus are the two diseases of concern in the case of milk and colostrum, therefore raw milk and colostrum should only enter from third countries or territories or zones thereof which are free from those diseases. Colostrum-based products should also only originate from those third countries, territories or zones as there are no scientific-based risk-mitigating treatments to ensure the destruction of the disease agent in that category of products.

(75)

For milk obtained from Bos taurus, Ovis aries, Capra hircus, Bubalus bubalis and Camelus dromedarius, the risk related to foot and mouth disease can be mitigated with the application of well-known specific risk-mitigating treatments. However, as the effectiveness of certain of those treatments for dairy products from animal species other than Bos taurus, Ovis aries, Capra hircus, Bubalus bubalis and Camelus dromedarius cannot be ensured, they should undergo the most severe risk-mitigating treatment.

(76)

Treatments for products of animal origin should always be carried out in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof listed for entry of those products into the Union.

(77)

Aquatic animals of listed species are sometimes transported by sea in vessels, including well-boats which may exchange water during the journey. In such cases, in addition to a health certificate, the animals should also be accompanied by a declaration signed by the master of the vessel outlining details of the ports of origin and destination and of any other ports visited during the journey. This declaration should confirm that the animals of listed species on board the vessel have not been exposed to any conditions that could have altered their health status during the journey to their final destination.

(78)

Aquatic animals may enter the Union for many different purposes. Given the disease risk associated with the movement of live animals, such animals entering the Union for human consumption should be treated in the same way as if they were entering the Union for other purposes such as farming or release into the wild. Products of animal origin from aquatic animals other than live aquatic animals represent a lower risk than aquatic animals, and the measures to be taken in relation to such products entering the Union for further processing, are therefore, less rigorous than those which apply to live animals.

(79)

Releasing aquatic animals into the wild in natural waters is a high-risk activity if those animals are infected with a listed disease. For that reason, for category A and B diseases specifically, the third country or territory of origin or zone or compartment thereof should be free of those diseases when aquatic animals are intended for release into the wild in natural waters of the Union. In addition, aquatic animals brought into the Union to be released into the wild in natural waters should in all cases, originate from a third country or territory or zone or compartment declared free of a category C disease even when the Member State or zone or compartment of destination is not free from that disease.

(80)

In the case of aquatic diseases, Member States may take national measures under Article 226 of the ‘Animal Health Law’ designed to limit the impact of diseases other than listed diseases, within their own territory. In such cases, consignments of species susceptible to the diseases to which those national measures apply will also need to originate from third countries, territories, zones or compartments thereof, which are free of those diseases.

(81)

Article 226 of the ‘Animal Health Law’ reflects the same intent as Article 43 of Council Directive 2006/88/EC (7) as it allows Member States to take national measures against diseases which are not listed. It is therefore appropriate, to continue to recognise the list of diseases and the relevant species for which those measures have been put in place. These details should be set out in this Regulation.

(82)

Certain rules apply within the Union in relation to the registration and approval of aquaculture establishments. The differentiation between whether an establishment can be registered or whether it should be approved depends upon the risk it presents of contracting or spreading disease. It is important therefore, that aquaculture animals which enter the Union from aquaculture establishments in a third country, territory, zone or compartment thereof, should originate from aquaculture establishments which are assessed in a similar way. In that context, such establishments should comply with registration or approval requirements which are at least as stringent as those laid down for such establishments within the Union.

(83)

It is not mandatory in all situations to apply the requirement that aquatic animals of listed species and products of animal origin from those animals originate from a third country or territory or zone or compartment thereof free from disease. Certain risk-mitigation measures can be taken to facilitate the entry into the Union of aquatic animals and certain products of animal origin thereof which do not have such an origin. Certain risk-mitigation measures are acceptable for aquatic animals of listed species and given the lower level of risk associated with such movements, different, less stringent risk-mitigation measures are acceptable for products of animal origin from aquatic animals other than live aquatic animals.

(84)

The mitigation measures that apply to aquatic animals include their being consigned to a disease control aquatic food establishment, a confined establishment or an approved quarantine establishment after entry into the Union. A number of other risk-mitigating measures apply to molluscs and crustaceans of listed species which enter the Union alive and in compliance with Regulation (EU) No 853/2004 but which represent an acceptable risk because of how they were treated or packaged before dispatch or because they are not intended for storage in the Union, prior to processing.

(85)

It is possible to derogate from the requirements that certain products of animal origin from aquatic animals other than live aquatic animals, have to originate in a third country or territory or zone or compartment thereof which is free from the relevant listed diseases. The risk-mitigation measures allowing such trade to occur may consist of consigning the products of animal origin to a disease control aquatic food establishment in the Union for further processing, or of ensuring that the products of animal origin consist of fish which were slaughtered and eviscerated before being dispatch to the Union. In either case, the risk posed by the products of animal origin is assessed as negligible.

(86)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 establishes a list of aquatic species and groups of species that pose a considerable risk for the spread of the diseases listed in Article 5 and Annex II to the ‘Animal Health Law’. The list also includes a list of vector species, which is set out in column 4 of the table in the Annex to that Regulation. Many of those species do not, however, act as vectors in all circumstances. In relation to movements, details of the circumstances in which those species are considered to be vectors of the listed diseases are set out in Annex XXX to this Regulation. In circumstances where aquatic animals of listed species do not fulfil the conditions to be vectors, they are not covered by the rules set out in this Regulation. In addition, given the lower level of risk posed by products of animal origin from aquatic animals other than live aquatic animals, the measures set out in this Regulation in relation to these products do not apply to the species listed in column 4 of the table in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882.

(87)

All derogations and handling requirements provided for in this Regulation in relation to aquatic animals of listed species and to products of animal origin from those listed species other than live aquatic animals, should also apply to the species listed in column 4 of the table in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 for which Member States have taken national measures under Article 226 of the ‘Animal Health Law’. Likewise, these derogations and handling requirements should also apply to certain susceptible species.

(88)

It is important that aquatic animals of listed species, and the water in which they are transported, are handled appropriately after entry into the Union to ensure that they do not pose a disease risk. Appropriate handling includes ensuring that the animals are transported directly to the place of destination and are not released or otherwise immersed in natural waters of the Union, where they could cause a potential disease risk.

(89)

In certain cases, however, the competent authority at the place of destination may allow authorisation for such animals to be released into natural waters. In all such cases, it should be for the competent authority to ensure that the release or immersion does not jeopardise the health status at the place of release. Furthermore, even if the receiving waters are not free of a specific category C disease, the animals to be released should be disease-free, in order to ensure the best overall health status is achieved for wild populations in natural waters of the Union.

(90)

In relation to the animal health risk involved, all transit movements through the Union should be considered as movements for entry into the Union as they imply the same level of risk. Transit movements should therefore comply with all the relevant requirements for entry into the Union. However, derogations and special rules for transit should be established under specific risk-mitigating conditions linked to the place of origin. Such derogations and special rules are intended to cover situations where the Union is not the final destination for the animals and products thereof and to take into account geographical constraints and geopolitical factors.

(91)

Derogations and special rules should also be established for the transit of consignments of animals and products thereof via a third country or territory between Member States. This is to cover situations where such type of entry into the Union is required by a Member State.

(92)

In some cases commodities originating in the Union are refused by the competent authorities of a third country or territory following controls carried out at their border. Special rules should be adopted under Article 239 of the ‘Animal Health Law’ to allow the return of those commodities on the grounds that they have been produced under the Union’s animal health legislation.

(93)

Special rules are also necessary for the return to the Union of registered horses after temporary export to third countries in order to participate in races, competitions and equestrian cultural events.

(94)

With a view to the uniform application of Union legislation on entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin and to ensure that the legislation is clear and transparent, this Regulation should repeal Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 (8), Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 139/2013 (9), Commission Regulation (EU) No 605/2010 (10), Commission Regulation (EC) No 798/2008 (11), Commission Decision 2007/777/EC (12), Commission Regulation (EC) No 119/2009 (13), Commission Regulation (EU) No 28/2012 (14) and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/759 (15).

(95)

The rules contained in this regulation are linked and complement those of the ‘Animal Health Law’ that applies from 21 April 2021. For this reason and to facilitate the application of the new animal health legal framework this Regulation should also apply from 21 April 2021,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

PART I

GENERAL RULES

TITLE 1

SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

Article 1

Subject matter and scope

1.   This Regulation lays down supplementing animal health rules concerning the entry into the Union of consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories or zones thereof, or compartments in the case of aquaculture animals. It also lays down rules concerning the movement and handling of those consignments after their entry in the Union.

2.   Part I lays down:

(a)

the obligations on the competent authority of Member States to permit the entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin of species and categories of animals covered by Parts II to VI (Articles 3 and 4);

(b)

the obligations on the operators regarding the entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry, of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin covered by Parts II to VI (Article 5);

(c)

the general animal health requirements for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after the entry of the consignments referred to in points (a) and (b), and derogations from those general requirements, applicable to all the species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin covered by Parts II to VI (Articles 6 to 10).

3.   Part II lays down the general animal health requirements for entry into the Union, as well as the movement and handling after the entry, and derogations from such requirements for certain terrestrial animals (Title 1).

In addition, it lays down specific animal health requirements that are also applicable to the each of those species and categories of terrestrial animals, in particular:

(a)

kept ungulates of listed species (Title 2);

(b)

poultry and captive birds, except captive birds imported for conservation programmes approved by the competent authority of the Member State of destination (Title 3);

(c)

honeybees (Apis mellifera) and bumble bees (Bombus spp.) (Title 4);

(d)

dogs, cats and ferrets (Title 5).

4.   Part III lays down the general animal health requirements for entry into the Union, as well as the movement and handling after the entry, and derogations from such requirements for germinal products of the following species and categories of kept terrestrial animals:

(a)

bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals (Title 1);

(b)

poultry and captive birds (Title 2);

(c)

animals other than those listed in points (a) and (b) (Title 3).

5.   Part IV lays down the general animal health requirements for entry into the Union, as well as the movement and handling after the entry, and derogations from those requirements for products of animal origin of the following species and categories of terrestrial animals:

(a)

kept and wild ungulates of listed species;

(b)

poultry;

(c)

game birds.

6.   Part V lays down the animal health requirements for entry into the Union, as well as the movement and handling after the entry, and derogations from those requirements for the following species of aquatic animals at all life stages as well as their products of animal origin, other than wild aquatic animals and products of animal origin from those wild aquatic animals landed from fishing vessels for direct human consumption:

(a)

fish of listed species belonging to the superclass Agnatha and to the classes Chondrichthyes, Sarcopterygii and Actinopterygii;

(b)

aquatic molluscs of listed species belonging to the phylum Mollusca;

(c)

aquatic crustaceans of listed species belonging to the subphylum Crustacea;

(d)

aquatic animals of species listed in Annex XXIX which are susceptible to the aquatic diseases for which certain Member States have national measures to limit the impact of diseases other than listed diseases, as provided for in Article 226 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.

7.   Part VI lays down the general rules, certain derogations and additional requirements for transit through the Union and for the return to the Union of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin.

8.   Part VII lays down final provisions.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the definitions laid down in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 and Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 shall apply, except where those definitions cover terms that are defined in the second paragraph of this Article.

In addition, the following definitions shall also apply:

(1)

‘listed third country, territory or zone thereof’ means a third country, territory or zone thereof included in a list of third countries, territories or zones thereof, or compartments in the case of aquaculture animals, from which the entry into the Union of a particular species and category of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin is permitted in accordance with implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 230(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(2)

‘the list’ means the list of third countries, territories or zones thereof, or compartments in the case of aquaculture animals, authorised for entry into the Union of consignments of a particular species and category of animals, germinal products or products of animal origin by implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 230(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(3)

‘means of transport’ means road or rail vehicle, vessels and aircrafts;

(4)

‘container’ means any crate, box, receptacle or other rigid structure used for the transport of animals, germinal products or products of animal origin which is not the means of transport;

(5)

‘bovine animal’ means an animal of the species of ungulates belonging to the genera Bison, Bos (including the subgenera Bos, Bibos, Novibos, Poephagus) and Bubalus (including the subgenus Anoa) and the offspring of crossings of those species;

(6)

‘ovine animal’ means an animal of the species of ungulates belonging to the genus Ovis and the offspring of crossings of those species;

(7)

‘caprine animal’ means an animal of the species of ungulates belonging to the genus Capra and the offspring of crossings of those species;

(8)

‘porcine animal’ means an animal of the species of ungulates belonging to the family Suidae listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(9)

‘equine animal’ means an animal of species of solipeds belonging to the genus Equus (including horses, asses, and zebras) and the offspring of crossings of those species;

(10)

‘camelid animal’ means an animal of the species of ungulates belonging to the family Camelidae listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(11)

‘cervid animal’ means an animal of the species of ungulates belonging to the family Cervidae listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(12)

‘registered equine animal’ means:

(a)

a purebred breeding animal of the species Equus caballus and Equus asinus entered or eligible for entry in the main section of a breeding book established by a breed society or breeding body recognised in accordance with Article 4 or 34 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012;

(b)

a kept animal of the species Equus caballus registered with an international association or organisation, either directly or through its national federation or branches, which manages horses for competition or racing (‘registered horse’);

(13)

‘animals intended for slaughter’ means kept terrestrial animals to be transported, either directly or after undergoing an assembly operation, to a slaughterhouse;

(14)

‘disease has not been reported’ means that no animal or group of animals of relevant species kept on the establishment has been classified as a confirmed case of that disease and any suspect case of that disease has been ruled out;

(15)

‘sanitary group’ means a group of listed third countries in which common animal health risks as regards diseases listed for equine animals prevail that require specific risk-mitigating measures and health guarantees when equine animals enter into the Union;

(16)

‘flock’ means all poultry or captive birds of the same health status kept on the same premises or in the same enclosure and constituting a single epidemiological unit; in housed poultry, this includes all birds sharing the same airspace.

(17)

‘breeding poultry’ means poultry 72 hours old or more, intended for the production of hatching eggs;

(18)

‘productive poultry’ means poultry 72 hours old or more, reared for the production of meat, eggs for consumption or other products or for restocking supplies of game birds;

(19)

‘day-old chicks’ means poultry less than 72 hours old;

(20)

‘honeybee’ means an animal of the Apis mellifera species;

(21)

‘bumble bee’ means an animal of the species belonging to the genus Bombus;

(22)

‘dog’ means a kept animal of the Canis lupus species;

(23)

‘cat’ means a kept animal of the Felis silvestris species;

(24)

‘ferret’ means a kept animal of the Mustela putorius furo species;

(25)

‘unique approval number’ means a number assigned by the competent authority;

(26)

‘specified pathogen-free eggs’ means hatching eggs derived from ‘chicken flocks free from specified pathogens’, as described in the European Pharmacopoeia and which are intended solely for diagnostic, research or pharmaceutical use;

(27)

‘consignment of semen, oocytes or embryos’ or ‘consignment of germinal products’ means a quantity of semen, oocytes, in vivo derived embryos or in vitro produced embryos dispatched from a single approved germinal product establishment covered by a single animal health certificate;

(28)

‘semen’ means the ejaculate of an animal or animals, either in the unaltered state or prepared or diluted;

(29)

‘oocytes’ means the haploid stages of the ootidogenesis including secondary oocytes and ova;

(30)

‘embryo’ means the initial stage of development of an animal while it is capable of being transferred to a recipient dam;

(31)

‘approved germinal product establishment’ means a semen collection centre, an embryo collection team, an embryo production team, a germinal product processing establishment or a germinal product storage centre;

(32)

‘centre veterinarian’ means the veterinarian responsible for the activities carried out at the semen collection centre, at the germinal product processing establishment or at the germinal product storage centre as provided for in this Regulation;

(33)

‘team veterinarian’ means the veterinarian responsible for the activities carried out by an embryo collection team or by an embryo production team as provided for in this Regulation;

(34)

‘quarantine accommodation’ means a facility authorised by the competent authority for the purpose of the isolation of bovine, porcine, ovine or caprine animals for a period of at least 28 days before they are admitted to a semen collection centre;

(35)

‘semen collection centre’ means a germinal product establishment approved by the competent authority for the collection, processing, storage and transport of semen of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine or equine animals intended for entry into the Union;

(36)

‘embryo collection team’ means a germinal product establishment comprised of a group of professionals or structure approved by the competent authority for the collection, processing, storage and transport of in vivo derived embryos intended for entry into the Union;

(37)

‘embryo production team’ means a germinal product establishment comprised of a group of professionals or structure approved by the competent authority for the collection, processing, storage and transport of oocytes, and the in vitro production, where applicable with stored semen, processing, storage and transport of embryos, both intended for entry into the Union;

(38)

‘germinal product processing establishment’ means a germinal product establishment approved by the competent authority for the processing, including semen sex-sorting where appropriate, and the storage of semen, oocytes or embryos of one or more species, or any combination of those types of germinal products or species, intended for entry into the Union;

(39)

‘germinal product storage centre’ means a germinal product establishment approved by the competent authority for the storage of semen, oocytes or embryos of one or more species, or any combination of those types of germinal products or species, intended for entry into the Union;

(40)

‘meat’ means all parts of ungulates, poultry and game birds which are suitable for human consumption, including blood;

(41)

‘fresh meat’ means meat, minced meat and meat preparations, including vacuum-wrapped or wrapped in a controlled atmosphere, which has not undergone any preserving process other than chilling, freezing or quick-freezing;

(42)

‘carcase of an ungulate’ means the whole body of a slaughtered or killed ungulate after:

(a)

bleeding, in the case of slaughtered animals;

(b)

evisceration;

(c)

removal of the limbs at the carpus and tarsus;

(d)

removal of the tail, the udder, the head and the skin, except in porcine animals.

(43)

‘offal’ means fresh meat other than that of a carcase of an ungulate even if it remains naturally connected to the carcase;

(44)

‘meat products’ means processed products, including treated stomachs, bladders, intestines, rendered animal fats and meat extracts, resulting from the processing of meat or from the further processing of such processed products, so that the cut surface shows that the product no longer has the characteristics of fresh meat;

(45)

‘casings’ means the bladders and intestines that after cleaning have been processed by tissue scraping, defatting and washing and have been treated with salt or dried;

(46)

‘colostrum’ means the fluid secreted by the mammary glands of kept animals up to 3 to 5 days post-parturition that is rich in antibodies and minerals, and precedes the production of raw milk;

(47)

‘colostrum-based products’ means processed products resulting from the processing of colostrum or from the further processing of such processed products;

(48)

‘well-boat’ means a vessel used by the aquaculture industry which has a well or tank for the storage and transport of live fish in water;

(49)

‘IMSOC’ means the information management system for official controls provided for in Article 131 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (16).

TITLE 2

GENERAL ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNION, AND MOVEMENT AND HANDLING AFTER THE ENTRY OF CONSIGNMENTS OF ANIMALS, GERMINAL PRODUCTS AND PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN

Article 3

Obligations of the competent authorities of Member States

The competent authority shall permit the entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin of species and categories covered by Parts II to VI, which are presented for the purpose of official controls as provided for in Article 47(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, provided that:

(a)

the consignments come from:

(i)

in the case of terrestrial animals, a listed third country or territory or zone thereof for the particular species and category of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin;

(ii)

in the case of aquatic animals, a listed third country or territory or zone thereof for the particular species and category of animals and products of animal origin, and in the case of aquaculture animals, a listed third country or territory or zone or compartment thereof listed for that purpose;

(b)

the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin has certified that the consignments comply with:

(i)

the general animal health requirements for entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin laid down in this Article, Article 4 and Articles 6 to 10;

(ii)

the animal health requirements applicable to the particular species and category of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin and intended use, as laid down in Parts II to VI;

(c)

the consignments are accompanied by the following documents whereby the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin has provided the necessary guarantees as regards compliance with the animal health requirements referred to in point (b):

(i)

an animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian of the third country or territory of origin, specific for the particular species and category of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin and their intended use;

(ii)

a declaration and other documents, where required in this Regulation.

In the case of consignments of animals and hatching eggs, the animal health certificate, referred to in point (c)(i) must have been issued within the period of 10 days prior to the date of arrival of the consignment at the border control post; however, in the case of transport by sea that period may be extended by an additional period corresponding to the duration of the journey by sea.

Article 4

The date of certification of consignments

1.   Consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin of species and categories falling within the scope of this Regulation shall only be permitted to enter the Union provided that such consignments were certified for dispatch to the Union not earlier than the date on which the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof, or compartment thereof in the case of aquaculture animals, was listed for entry into the Union of the particular species and category of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin.

2.   Consignments of animals, hatching eggs and products of animal origin originating from a third country or territory or zone thereof, or compartment thereof in the case of aquaculture animals, shall not be permitted to enter the Union from the date on which it no longer complies with the animal health requirements for entry into the Union of the particular species and category of animals, hatching eggs or products of animal origin, unless specific conditions have been assigned by the Union in the list to the listed third country, territory or zone thereof and to the particular species and categories of animals, hatching eggs or products of animal origin.

Article 5

Obligations of operators

1.   Operators responsible for entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin of the species and categories falling within the scope of this Regulation, shall present those consignments to the competent authority in the Union for the purpose of official controls, as provided for in Article 47(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, and shall ensure that such consignments comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the general animal health requirements for entry into the Union of the animals, germinal products and products of animal origin laid down in Articles 3 and 4 and Articles 6 to 10;

(b)

the animal health requirements applicable to the particular species and category of the animals, germinal products and products of animal origin of the consignment and its intended use, as laid down in Parts II to VI.

2.   Operators responsible for the movement of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin of the species and categories falling within the scope of this Regulation from the point of entry in the Union to their place of destination, and those responsible for the handling of such consignments after their entry into the Union shall ensure that the consignments:

(a)

are permitted to enter the Union by the competent authority in accordance with Article 3;

(b)

comply with the animal health requirements for the movement and handling of such consignments after the entry into the Union for the specific species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin laid down in Parts II to VI;

(c)

are not diverted for uses other than those for which they were certified by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin for entry into the Union.

Article 6

National legislation and animal health systems of the third country or territory of origin

1.   Consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin shall only be permitted to enter the Union from a third country or territory where:

(a)

any suspicion and confirmed case of a listed disease referred to in Annex I, relevant for the listed species of animals in the consignment or for the listed species of animals of origin of the germinal products or products of animal origin in the consignment authorised to enter the Union, are required by law to be notified and reported to the competent authority;

(b)

there are systems in place to detect emerging diseases;

(c)

there are systems in place to ensure that swill feeding is not a source of the listed diseases referred to in Annex I for:

(i)

the animals intended for entry into the Union;

or

(ii)

the animals from which the germinal products intended for entry into the Union are obtained;

or

(iii)

the animals from which the products of animal origin intended for entry into the Union are obtained.

2.   Consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin intended for entry into the Union shall only be permitted to enter the Union from a third country or territory or zone thereof where such consignments may be lawfully placed on the market and traded in that third country or territory of origin or zone thereof.

Article 7

General requirements as regards the health status of the animals, germinal products and products of animal origin

1.   Consignments of animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment:

(a)

are not animals to be killed under a national programme carried out in the third country or territory of origin for the eradication of diseases, including the relevant listed diseases referred to in Annex I and emerging diseases;

(b)

did not show symptoms of transmissible diseases at the time of loading for the dispatch to the Union;

(c)

originate from an establishment which, at the time of their dispatch from that establishment to the Union, was not subject to national restriction measures:

(i)

for animal health reasons;

(ii)

in the case of aquaculture animals, for animal health reasons or due to the occurrence of abnormal mortalities with an undetermined cause.

2.   Consignments of germinal products shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were obtained from animals which at the time of collection:

(a)

did not show symptoms of transmissible diseases;

(b)

were kept on an establishment which was not subject to national restriction measures for animal health reasons, including restrictions related to the relevant listed diseases referred to in Annex I and emerging diseases.

3.   Consignments of products of animal origin shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were obtained from animals which:

(a)

in the case of terrestrial animals, did not show symptoms of transmissible diseases at the time of:

(i)

killing or slaughter, for the production of fresh meat and meat products;

or

(ii)

the collection of milk or eggs;

(b)

in the case of aquatic animals, did not show symptoms of transmissible diseases at the time of slaughter or collection for the production of products of animal origin.

(c)

were not killed, slaughtered or, in the case of molluscs and live crustaceans removed from the water, under a national programme for the eradication of diseases;

(d)

were kept on an establishment which was not subject to national restriction measures for animal health reasons, including where relevant, listed diseases referred to in Annex I and emerging diseases, at the time of:

(i)

the killing or slaughter of those animals for the production of fresh meat and meat products or products of animal origin from aquatic animals; or

(ii)

the collection of milk and eggs.

Article 8

General requirements as regards the establishment of origin of the animals

In addition to the specific requirements laid down in Parts II to V, consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the establishment of origin of the kept animals, or the establishment of origin of the kept animals from which the germinal products or products of animal origin were obtained, complies with the following requirements:

(a)

it must be registered by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin and assigned a unique registration number;

(b)

it must be approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin, where required by and under the conditions provided for in this Regulation, and assigned a unique approval number;

(c)

it must be under the control of the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin;

(d)

it must have a system in place to maintain and to keep, for a minimum period of 3 years, up-to-date records containing at least the following information:

(i)

the species, categories, number and where relevant, identification of animals on the establishment;

(ii)

movements of animals into and out of the establishment;

(iii)

mortality in the establishment.

(e)

it must receive regular animal health visits from a veterinarian for the purpose of the detection of, and information on, signs indicative of the occurrence of diseases, including those listed diseases referred to in Annex I relevant for the particular species and category of animal, germinal product or product of animal origin and emerging diseases.

Such animal health visits shall take place at frequencies that are proportionate to the risks posed by the establishment concerned.

Article 9

Sampling, laboratory tests and other tests

Consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin shall only be permitted to enter the Union if sampling, laboratory tests and other tests required by this Regulation have been carried out:

(a)

on samples taken by or under the control of the competent authority of:

(i)

the third country or territory of origin when sampling and testing are required prior to entry into the Union;

or

(ii)

the Member State of destination when sampling and testing are required after the entry into the Union;

(b)

in accordance with:

(i)

the relevant procedures and methods set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 (17);

or

(ii)

for the purpose of entry into the Union of germinal products of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals, the procedures and methods set out in Annex II to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686 (18);

or

(iii)

the procedures described in this Regulation, where specifically required;

(c)

in an official laboratory, designated in accordance with Article 37 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

Article 10

Disease freedom of the place of origin and specific conditions

1.   Consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the freedom from particular diseases of the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof or of the establishment of origin of the animals, germinal products or products of animal origin, required by this Regulation has been demonstrated by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin:

(a)

in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689;

or

(b)

for diseases not falling within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689, in accordance with specific rules, where such rules are laid down in this Regulation, and the disease surveillance programme implemented by the third country or territory of origin, which must have been:

(i)

submitted to the Commission for assessment and contain at least the information referred to in Annex II;

(ii)

assessed by the Commission as providing the necessary guarantees as regards disease freedom based on:

the rules on disease surveillance laid down in Articles 24, 25, 26 and 27 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429,

the supplementing rules on surveillance design and the rules for disease confirmation and case definition laid down in Sections 1 and 2 and Article 10 of Chapter 1 of Part II of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689;

(iii)

in place for a sufficient period of time for it to be fully implemented and properly supervised.

2.   In the case of aquaculture animals and products of animal origin from aquaculture animals, where disease freedom from particular diseases is required for the compartment of origin, consignments of those commodities shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the competent authority of the third country of origin has demonstrated disease freedom in accordance with paragraph 1(a) and (b).

3.   Where specific conditions related to the disease freedom from particular diseases of the third country or territory of origin, or zone thereof, are required in this Regulation:

(a)

the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin must have previously guaranteed its compliance;

(b)

those specific conditions shall have been specifically assigned by the Union in the list to the listed third country or territory, zone or compartment thereof and to the particular species and category of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin.

PART II

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNION OF KEPT TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS AS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLES 3 AND 5

TITLE 1

GENERAL ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR KEPT TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS

Article 11

The residency period required for kept terrestrial animals

Consignments of kept terrestrial animals other than dogs, cats and ferrets, shall only be permitted to enter the Union subject to compliance with the following requirements:

(a)

the animals complied with the relevant residency period set out in the following tables of Annex III for a continuous period of time immediately prior to the date of dispatch to the Union:

(i)

Table 1 in the case of ungulates, honeybees and bumble bees;

(ii)

Table 2 in the case of poultry and captive birds;

(b)

the animals:

(i)

remained continuously in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof during the period indicated in the second column of Table 1 in Annex III and the third column of Table 2 in Annex III;

(ii)

remained continuously in the establishment of origin, and no animals were introduced into that establishment during the period indicated in the third column of Table 1 in Annex III and the fourth column of Table 2 in Annex III;

(iii)

had no contact with animals of a lower health status during the period indicated in the fourth column of Table 1 in Annex III and the fifth column of Table 2 in Annex III.

Article 12

Derogations regarding the residency period for registered horses for competition, races and cultural events

1.   By way of derogation of point (b)(i) of Article 11, equine animals other than equine animals intended for slaughter shall be regarded as complying with the residency period provided for in Table 1 of Annex III, if prior to their dispatch to the Union they have been resident during the period indicated in the second column of Table 1 of Annex III in addition to the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof also in:

(a)

a Member State;

or

(b)

in case of registered horses, a listed third country or territory of intermediate residency, or zone thereof, from where the entry into the Union of registered horses is authorised for that purpose and provided that they were introduced into the third country or territory of origin, or zone thereof, in accordance with animal health requirements providing animal health guarantees at least as stringent as those applicable to the direct entry into the Union of registered horses for competition and races from that third country or territory of intermediate residence, or zone thereof.

2.   By way of derogation from point (b)(ii) of Article 11, registered horses for competition, races and cultural equestrian events shall be regarded as complying with the residency requirements provided for in the third column of Table 1 of Annex III if they have been resident in the third country of origin or the third country of intermediate residence in establishments other than the establishment of origin provided that the other establishments:

(a)

have been under supervision of the official veterinarian in a third country or territory;

(b)

were not subject to national restriction measures for animal health reasons, including restrictions relating to the relevant diseases referred to in Annex I and relevant emerging diseases;

(c)

comply with the animal health requirements laid down in Article 23.

3.   Also by way of derogation from point (b)(ii) of Article 11, registered horses for competition, races and cultural equestrian events that have had contact with equine animals which were entered into the third country, territory or zone thereof from another third country territory, or zone thereof, or from another zone in the third country or territory of origin shall be permitted to enter the Union provided that:

(a)

those equine animals were introduced into the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof in accordance with animal health requirements at least as stringent as those applicable to the direct entry into the Union of those equine animals;

(b)

the possibility of direct contact with other animals is limited to the period of the competition, races or cultural equestrian events and the related training, warm-up and pre-racing presentation.

Article 13

Inspection of terrestrial animals prior to dispatch to the Union

1.   Consignments of terrestrial animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment have been subjected to a clinical inspection, carried out by an official veterinarian in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof within the period of 24 hours prior to the time of loading for dispatch to the Union for the purpose of the detection of signs indicative of the occurrence of diseases, including the relevant listed diseases referred to in Annex I and emerging diseases.

In the case of poultry and captive birds, that inspection shall cover both the animals intended for dispatch to the Union and the flock of origin.

2.   By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, in the case of registered equine animals the inspection referred to therein may be carried out within 48 hours prior to the time of loading for dispatch to the Union or on the last working day prior to dispatch to the Union.

3.   By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, in the case of dogs, cats and ferrets the inspection referred to therein may be carried out within the period of 48 hours prior to the time of loading for dispatch to the Union.

Article 14

General rules for the dispatch to the Union of terrestrial animals

1.   Consignments of terrestrial animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if, from the time of loading at the establishment of origin for dispatch to the Union until the time of their arrival in the Union, the animals of the consignment have not been in contact with other terrestrial animals of:

(a)

the same species, not intended for entry into the Union;

(b)

other species listed for the same diseases, not intended for entry into the Union;

(c)

a lower health status.

2.   When transported by air, sea, railway, road or on foot, the consignments referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they have not been transported through, unloaded or transhipped in a third country or territory or zone thereof which is not listed for entry into the Union of the specific species and category of animals and their intended use in the Union.

3.   When transported by sea, even for part of the journey, the consignments referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they arrive to the Union accompanied by a declaration, attached to the animal health certificate accompanying the animals and signed by the master of the vessel, providing the following information:

(a)

the port of departure in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof;

(b)

the port of arrival in the Union;

(c)

the ports of call, where the vessel called at ports outside the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof of the animals;

(d)

confirmation of compliance with the following requirements during the journey to the Union:

(i)

the animals have remained on board;

(ii)

the animals have not been into contact with animals of a lower health status while on board.

Article 15

Derogation for the transhipment of terrestrial animals other than equine animals in non-listed third countries or territories in the event of a technical problem or another unforeseen incident

1.   By way of derogation from Article 14(2), the competent authority shall authorise the entry into the Union of consignments of terrestrial animals, other than equine animals, which have been transhipped from the original means of transport of dispatch into another means of transport for onward travel in a third country or territory or zone thereof which is not a listed third country or territory or zone thereof for entry of the particular species and category of animals into the Union, only if the transhipment operation took place because of the occurrence of a technical problem or another unforeseen incident causing logistic problems during the transport of the animals to the Union by sea or by air, in order to complete the transport to the point of entry into Union, provided that:

(a)

the entry into the Union of the consignment of animals is authorised by the competent authority of the Member State of destination and, where applicable, any Member States of passage until their arrival at their place of destination in the Union;

(b)

the transhipment was supervised by an official veterinarian in the third country or territory throughout the operation to ensure that:

(i)

effective protection measures against vectors of relevant animal diseases were put in place;

(ii)

effective measures were put in place to avoid direct and indirect contact between the animals intended for entry into the Union and any other animals;

(iii)

no feed, water or bedding, originating from a third country or territory or zone thereof which is not a listed third country or territory or zone thereof for entry of the particular species and category of animals into the Union, has been added in the means of transport for onward travel to the Union;

(iv)

the animals of the consignment were transferred directly and as quick as possible to a vessel or aircraft for onward travel to the Union, which complies with requirements laid down in Article 17, without leaving the boundaries of the port or airport;

(c)

the consignment of animals is accompanied by a declaration from the competent authority of the third country or territory where the transfer took place, providing information on the transfer operation and attesting that relevant measures were put in place to comply with the requirements laid down in point (b).

2.   The derogation provided for in paragraph 1 shall not apply to consignments of honeybees and bumble bees.

Article 16

Derogation for the transhipment of equine animals in non-listed third countries or territories

By way of derogation from Article 14(2), where consignments of equine animals have been transhipped to another means of transport during the transport of the animals to the Union in a third country or territory or zone thereof which is not a listed third country or territory or zone thereof for entry of the particular category of equine animals, those consignments shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the animals of the consignment were transported to the Union by sea or by air;

(b)

the animals of the consignment were transhipped directly from the original means of transport of dispatch into the other means of transport for onward travel;

(c)

during the transhipment operation:

(i)

effective protection against vectors of relevant animal diseases was provided and the equine animals did not come into contact with equine animals of a lower health status;

(ii)

the animals of the consignment were transferred directly and as quickly as possible to the vessel or aircraft to be used for onward travel, which must have complied with the requirements laid down in Article 17, without leaving the boundaries of the port or airport under the direct supervision of an official veterinarian;

(d)

an official veterinarian must have certified that the consignment complied with the requirements laid down in point (a), (b) and (c).

Article 17

General requirements regarding means of transport of terrestrial animals

1.   Consignments of kept terrestrial animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the means of transport used for their transport are:

(a)

constructed in such a way that:

(i)

the animals cannot escape or fall out;

(ii)

visual inspection of the space where animals are kept is possible;

(iii)

the escape of animal excrements, litter or feed is prevented or minimised;

(iv)

in the case of poultry and captive birds, the escape of feathers is prevented or minimised;

(b)

cleaned and disinfected, with a disinfectant authorised by the competent authority of the third country or territory of dispatch, and dried or allowed to dry immediately before every loading of animals intended for entry into the Union.

2.   Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the transport of consignments of honeybees and bumble bees intended for entry into the Union.

Article 18

Requirements regarding containers in which terrestrial animals are transported to the Union

Consignments of kept terrestrial animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the containers in which kept terrestrial animals are transported to the Union in the means of transport:

(a)

comply with the requirements in Article 17(1)(a);

(b)

contain only animals of the same species and category coming from the same establishment;

(c)

are either:

(i)

unused and purpose-designed disposable containers to be destroyed after first use;

or

(ii)

cleaned and disinfected and dried or allowed to dry before loading of animals intended for entry into the Union.

Article 19

Movement and handling after entry of terrestrial animals

1.   Following their entry into the Union, consignments of terrestrial animals shall be transported directly without delay to:

(a)

their establishment of destination in the Union, where they shall remain at least for the period of time required in the relevant specific articles in Parts II to V;

(b)

the slaughterhouse of destination in the Union, if they are intended for slaughter, where they must be slaughtered within a period of 5 days from the date of their arrival in the Union.

2.   Where the destination of the consignments of terrestrial animals entered from a third country or territory or zone thereof is a slaughterhouse, an approved quarantine establishment or a confined establishment in the Union, the transport to and arrival at the place of the destination of the consignment shall be monitored in accordance with Article 2 and 3 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1666 (19).

3.   Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the entry into the Union of registered equine animals from third countries and to the re-entry after temporary export of registered horses.

TITLE 2

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR UNGULATES

CHAPTER 1

Specific animal health requirements for ungulates

Article 20

Dispatch of ungulates to the Union

1.   Consignments of ungulates shall only be permitted to enter the Union if such consignments have been dispatched from the establishment of origin to the Union without passing through any other establishment.

2.   By way of derogation of paragraph 1, consignments of ungulates coming from more than one establishment of origin may be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment have undergone a single assembly operation in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof subject to compliance with the following conditions:

(a)

the ungulates belong to one of the following species and categories:

(i)

Bos taurus, Ovis aries, Capra hircus or Sus scrofa;

or

(ii)

Equidae intended for slaughter;

(b)

the assembly operation took place in an establishment:

(i)

approved for conducting assembly operations of ungulates by the competent authority in the third country or territory in accordance with requirements which are at least as stringent as to those laid down with Article 5 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 (20);

(ii)

listed for that purpose by the competent authority of the third country or territory of dispatch, including the information provided for in Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035;

(iii)

where the following records are maintained up-to-date and kept for a period of at least 3 years:

the origin of the animals,

the dates of arrival and dispatch to and from the assembly centre,

the identification code of the animals,

the registration number of the establishment of origin of the animals,

the registration number of the transporters and the means of transport delivering or collecting the consignment of ungulates to and from that centre;

(iv)

which complies with the requirements provided for in Article 8 and Article 23(1);

(c)

the assembly operation in the assembly centre took no longer than 6 days; this period shall be considered as part of the timeframe for sampling for testing prior to dispatch to the Union, where such sampling is required by this Regulation;

(d)

the ungulates must have arrived in the Union within a period of 10 days from the date of dispatch from the establishment of origin.

Article 21

Identification of ungulates

1.   Consignments of ungulates, other than equine animals, shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment were individually identified prior to being dispatched from the establishment of origin, by a physical means of identification with a visible, legible and indelible display of:

(a)

the identification code of the animal which establishes an unequivocal link between the animal and the accompanying animal health certificate;

(b)

the code of the exporting country in accordance with ISO Standard 3166 in the format of two-letter code.

2.   Consignments of equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment were individually identified prior to being dispatched from the establishment of origin at least by one of the following methods:

(a)

an injectable transponder or ear tag, with a visible, legible and indelible display of:

(i)

the identification code of the animal which establishes an unequivocal link between the animal and the accompanying animal health certificate;

(ii)

the ISO-3166 two-digit alpha or three-digit numeric country code of the exporting country;

(b)

in the case of equine animals other than those intended for slaughter, an identification document, issued at the latest at the time of certification for entry into the Union, which:

(i)

describes and depicts the animal, including the alternative methods of identification, so as to establish an unequivocal link between the animal and the accompanying identification document;

(ii)

contains information on the individual code emitted by an implanted injectable transponder in the case where this code does not comply with the specifications in point (a).

3.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1, consignments of ungulates intended for confined establishments may be permitted to enter the Union if those animals are individually identified by an injectable transponder or an alternative method of identification which ensures an unequivocal link between the animal and its accompanying entry documentation.

4.   Where ungulates are identified with an electronic identifier which does not comply with ISO Standards 11784 and 11785 the operator responsible for entry into the Union of the consignments of ungulates shall provide the reading device which enables at any time the verification of the identification of the animal.

Article 22

The third country or territory of origin of ungulates or zone thereof

1.   Consignments of ungulates, other than equine animals, shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof free from the category A diseases referred to in the table set out in point 1 of Part A of Annex IV for the period referred to in that table.

2.   Consignments of equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof:

(a)

free from the listed diseases referred in the table set out in point 2 of Part A of Annex IV for the period referred to in that table;

(b)

where none of the listed diseases referred to in the table set out in point 3 of Part A of Annex IV has been reported during the referred period.

3.   The periods referred to in paragraph 1 and 2 may be reduced for diseases included in Part B of Annex IV under the relevant specific conditions referred therein.

4.   Consignments of ungulates shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof where vaccination against the category A diseases referred to in Part C of Annex IV has not been carried out in accordance with the details set out in:

(a)

point 1 of that Annex in the case of ungulates, other than equine animals;

(b)

point 2 of that Annex in the case of equine animals.

5.   As regards infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. bovis, M. caprae, M. tuberculosis), consignments of bovine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment either:

(a)

originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof free from that disease without vaccination;

or

(b)

comply with the requirements set out in point 1 of Annex V.

6.   As regards infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis, consignments of bovine, ovine and caprine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment either:

(a)

originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof free from that disease without vaccination;

or

(b)

comply with the requirements set out in point 2 of Annex V.

7.   As regards infection with bluetongue virus (serotypes 1-24), consignments of ungulates of listed species shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment either:

(a)

originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof free from that disease for a period of 2 years prior to the date of dispatch to the Union; or

(b)

comply with one of the specific conditions set out in of Part A of Annex VI.

8.   As regards enzootic bovine leukosis, consignments of bovine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if those animals either:

(a)

originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof free from that disease;

or

(b)

comply with the specific conditions set out in Part B of Annex VI.

9.   Consignments of ungulates intended for entry into Member States or zones thereof with disease-free status or with an approved eradication programme for the category C diseases referred to in Annex VII, for which the species of ungulates are listed, shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment:

(a)

originate from third country or territory or zone thereof free from those diseases for the relevant species;

or

(b)

comply with the relevant additional requirements set out in that Annex.

Article 23

The establishment of origin of ungulates

1.   Consignments of ungulates shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment:

(a)

come from an establishment in and around which, including where appropriate the territory of a neighbouring country, none of the listed diseases referred to in Annex VIII, for which the species of ungulates intended for entry into the Union are listed, has been reported in an area and for a period set out in the tables in:

(i)

points 1 and 2 of that Annex for ungulates other than equine animals;

or

(ii)

points 3 and 4 of that Annex for equine animals;

(b)

during the period referred to in point (a), the ungulates have not come into contact with animals with a lower health status.

2.   As regards infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. bovis, M. caprae, M. tuberculosis), consignments of bovine, ovine, caprine, camelid and cervid animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the establishment of origin of the animals of the consignment complies with the relevant requirements set out in point 1 of Annex IX.

3.   As regards infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis, consignments of bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine, camelid and cervid animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the establishment of origin of the animals of the consignment complies with the relevant requirements set out in point 2 of Annex IX.

Article 24

The ungulates of the consignment

1.   Consignments of ungulates shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they have not been vaccinated against the category A diseases referred to in the tables set out either in:

(i)

point 1 of Part C of Annex IV in the case of ungulates other than equine animals;

or

(ii)

point 2 of Part C of Annex IV in the case of equine animals;

(b)

during the period of time from when they were dispatched from their establishment of origin until their arrival to the Union, they must not have been unloaded in any place which does not comply with the requirements laid down in the tables set out either in:

(i)

points 1 and 2 of Annex VIII in the case of ungulates other than equine animals;

or

(ii)

points 3 and 4 of Annex VIII in the case of equine animals.

2.   As regards infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. bovis, M. caprae, M. tuberculosis) and infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis consignments of listed species of ungulates shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment have not been vaccinated against those diseases.

3.   As regards infection with bluetongue virus (serotypes 1-24), consignments of listed species of ungulates shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment have not been vaccinated with a live vaccine against this disease in the last 60 days prior to the date of movement.

4.   Consignments of ungulates intended for entry into Member States or zones thereof with disease-free status or with an approved eradication programme for the category C diseases referred to in Annex VII, for which the species of ungulates are listed, shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment have not been vaccinated against those diseases.

5.   In addition to requirements laid down in paragraph 1, consignments of uncastrated males of ovine animals and ungulates of the family Tayassuidae shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment comply with the relevant specific requirements as regards infection with Brucella laid down in Annex X.

6.   In addition to requirements laid down in paragraph 1, consignments of equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment comply with the specific conditions set out in point 2 of Annex XI, depending on the sanitary group, as determined in accordance with point 1 of Annex XI, to which the third country or territory or zone thereof has been assigned in the list.

Article 25

Derogations and additional requirements for entry into the Union of ungulates for slaughter

By way of derogation from the requirements laid down in Article 22(5) and (6), consignments of ungulates of the species referred to in those paragraphs which do not comply with those requirements shall be permitted to enter the Union provided that the animals of the consignment are only intended for slaughter.

Article 26

Movement and handling of ungulates after their entry into the Union

Following their entry into the Union, ungulates, except horses entering for competition, races and cultural equestrian events, shall remain in their establishment of destination for a period of time of at least 30 days since their arrival to that establishment.

CHAPTER 2

Special rules for entry into the Union of kept ungulates intended for confined establishments

Article 27

Animal health requirements not applicable to ungulates intended for confined establishments

Articles 11, 22, 23, 24 and 26 shall not apply to consignments of ungulates, excluding equine animals, entering the Union under the conditions laid down in Articles 28 to 34.

Article 28

Specific rules for entry of ungulates intended for confined establishments

1.   Consignments of ungulates intended for confined establishments shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they must come from a confined establishment which is included in a list of confined establishments from which the entry of ungulates into the Union is permitted, drawn up in accordance with Article 29;

(b)

they must have been dispatched directly from the confined establishment of origin to a confined establishment in the Union.

2.   The competent authority of the Member State of destination shall grant a specific authorisation for entry of each consignment of ungulates referred to in paragraph 1, following the favourable outcome of an assessment of the potential risks that the entry of such consignment may present for the Union.

3.   The entry into the Union and the movement of each consignment of ungulates referred to in paragraph 1 through Member States other than the Member State of destination shall be only permitted subject to the authorisation of the competent authorities of those Member States of passage.

That authorisation shall be granted only on the basis of the favourable outcome of a risk assessment carried out by the competent authority of those Member States of passage, based on the information submitted to them by the Member State of the place of destination in the Union.

4.   The Member State of the place of destination of the consignments referred to in paragraph 1 shall notify the Commission and the other Member States within the framework of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed and notify directly the point of entry in the Union of the ungulates, of the authorisations granted pursuant to paragraph 1 and 2, prior to any possible movement through other Member States and prior to the arrival of such ungulates into their territory.

Article 29

Listing of confined establishments of origin of ungulates in third countries or territories

1.   Member States may draw up a list of confined establishments in third countries and territories, from which the entry of ungulates into their territory shall be permitted.

That list shall specify the species of ungulates permitted to enter the territory of the Member State from each confined establishment in the third country or territory.

2.   Member States may include in their list of confined establishments provided for in paragraph 1, confined establishments that are already included in such lists of other Member States.

Except as provided for in the first subparagraph, Member States shall only include a confined establishment in a third country or territory in the list of confined establishments provided for in paragraph 1, following the favourable outcome of a complete assessment based on the following:

(a)

compliance by the confined establishment with the requirement to be approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin laid down in Article 30;

(b)

the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin must have provided sufficient information to guarantee that the confined establishment complies with the requirements concerning the approval of confined establishments laid down in Article 30.

3.   Member States shall keep the lists of confined establishments provided for in paragraph 1 up-to-date, taking into account in particular any suspension or withdrawal of the approval granted by the competent authority of a third country or territory of origin as referred to in Article 30, or by the competent authority of another Member State.

4.   Member States shall make the lists provided for in paragraph 1 publicly available on their websites.

Article 30

Conditions for confined establishments of origin of ungulates in third countries or territories for the purpose of Article 29

Member States shall only include a confined establishment located in a third country or territory on the list of confined establishments provided for in Article 29, if the confined establishment is approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory and complies with the following conditions:

(a)

it must be clearly demarcated and the access of animals and humans to animal facilities must be controlled;

(b)

it must have adequate means for catching, confining and isolating animals, and have available and adequate quarantine facilities and approved standard operating procedures for new incoming animals;

(c)

the animal accommodation areas must be of a suitable standard and constructed in such a way that:

(i)

contact with animals outside the confined establishment is prevented and inspections and any necessary treatment can be easily carried out;

(ii)

the floors, walls and all other material or equipment can be cleaned and disinfected easily;

(d)

as regards disease surveillance and control measures:

(i)

it must implement an appropriate disease surveillance programme which must include control measures against zoonosis, and update it according to the number and species of the animals present in the confined establishment and to the epidemiological situation in and around the confined establishment as regards listed diseases and emerging diseases;

(ii)

it must subject to clinical examinations, laboratory testing or post-mortem examinations those ungulates suspected of being infected or contaminated by disease agents of listed diseases or emerging diseases;

(iii)

it must carry out, as appropriate, the vaccination and treatment of susceptible ungulates against transmissible diseases;

(e)

it must keep, for a minimum period of 3 years, up-to-date records indicating:

(i)

the number and identity (namely, the estimated age, sex, species and individual identification, where appropriate) of the ungulates of each species present on the confined establishment;

(ii)

the number and identity (namely, the estimated age, sex, species and individual identification code where appropriate) of ungulates arriving or leaving the confined establishment, together with information on the establishment of origin or destination of such animals, the means of transport and the health status of those animals;

(iii)

details of the implementation and results of the disease surveillance and control programme provided for in point (d)(i);

(iv)

the results of clinical examinations, laboratory tests and of post-mortem examinations provided for in point (d)(ii);

(v)

details of the vaccination and treatment provided for in point (d)(iii);

(vi)

instructions, if any, of the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin as regards observations made during any period of isolation or quarantine;

(f)

it must ensure the disposal of the dead bodies of ungulates which die of a disease or are euthanised;

(g)

it must secure by contract or other legal instrument the services of an establishment veterinarian who shall be responsible for:

(i)

the supervision of the activities of the establishment and compliance with the conditions for approval laid down in of this Article;

(ii)

the review of the disease surveillance programme referred to in point (d)(i) at least annually;

(h)

by way of derogation from Article 9(c), either has:

(i)

an arrangement with a laboratory approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory to perform post-mortem examinations;

or

(ii)

one or more appropriate premises where post-mortem examinations may be performed under the authority of the establishment veterinarian.

Article 31

Derogation from the requirement of listing of the third country or territory and the listing of the confined establishment of origin of ungulates

1.   By way of derogation from the requirements laid down Article 3(1) and Article 28(1), consignments of ungulates from establishments in third countries or territories which do not comply with those requirements shall be permitted to enter the Union if they are intended for a confined establishment and provided that:

(a)

exceptional unforeseen circumstances render compliance with those requirements impossible;

(b)

those consignments comply with the conditions laid down in Article 32.

2.   The Member State of the place of destination of the consignment referred to in paragraph 1 shall notify the Commission and the Member States within the framework of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed and notify directly the point of entry in the Union of the ungulates, of the authorisations granted pursuant to paragraph 1, prior to any possible movement through other Member States and prior to the arrival of such ungulates into their territory.

Article 32

Additional requirements to be fulfilled by establishments of origin of ungulates intended for a confined establishment pursuant to the derogation laid down in Article 31

The competent authority of a Member State of destination shall only authorise derogations, as provided for in Article 31, for consignments of ungulates that comply with the following additional conditions:

(a)

a prior application to the competent authority of the Member State of destination for a specific derogation as provided for in Article 31 was made by the owner, or a natural person representing that owner, and the Member State of destination granted that authorisation after having carried out a risk assessment that has indicated that the introduction of such a consignment of ungulates would not present an animal health risk for the Union;

(b)

the ungulates have been quarantined in the third country or territory of origin under the supervision of the competent authority for the necessary period of time required for them to comply with the specific animal health requirements laid down in Articles 33 and 34:

(i)

at a place approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin of the ungulates;

(ii)

in accordance with the arrangements specified in the authorisation referred to in point (a) that must provide at least the same guarantees as those provided for by Article 28(2) to (4) and by Articles 33 and 34;

(c)

the ungulates must be quarantined in the confined establishment of destination for a period of at least 6 months from the date of entry into the Union, during which period the actions provided for in Article 138(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and in particular in its points 2(a), (d) and (k) may be taken by the competent authority of the Member State of destination.

Article 33

Animal health requirements for the confined establishment of origin of ungulates as regards listed diseases

Consignments of ungulates intended for a confined establishment located in the Union shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the confined establishment of origin complies with the following requirements as regards listed diseases:

(a)

as regards the confined establishment of origin of the ungulates, listed diseases referred to in the table set out in Part A of Annex XII have not been reported for the periods specified for those listed diseases in that table;

(b)

as regards the area in and around the confined establishment, listed diseases referred to in the table set out in Part B of Annex XII have been not reported for the periods specified for those listed diseases in that table.

Article 34

Animal health requirements for the ungulates of the consignment as regards listed diseases

Consignments of ungulates intended for a confined establishment located in the Union shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment comply with the following additional animal health requirements:

(a)

they must comply with a residency period in the confined establishment of origin for a continuous period of 6 months or since birth if they are less than 6 months of age;

(b)

they must not have been in contact with animals of a lower health status during:

(i)

the period of 30 days prior to the date of dispatch to the Union, or since birth if the animals are less than 30 days of age;

(ii)

their transport from the approved confined establishment of origin to the place of dispatch to the Union;

(c)

as regards the diseases referred to in the table set out in Part C of Annex XII, they must either:

(i)

originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof which complies with the disease freedom periods for the relevant diseases set out in that table;

or

(ii)

comply with the relevant additional requirements set out in Part D of Annex XII;

(d)

they must not have been vaccinated as referred to in the table set out in Part E of Annex XII;

(e)

if they have been vaccinated against anthrax and rabies, information on the date of vaccination, the vaccine used and the possible test performed to show a protective immune response, must have been provided by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin;

(f)

they must have been treated against internal and external parasites at least twice during the period of 40 days prior to date of dispatch to the Union.

Where the specific guarantees referred to in point (c)(ii) include a quarantine period in a vector-protected facility in the confined establishment, this facility must comply with the requirements set out in Part F of Annex XII.

Article 35

Movement and handling of ungulates intended to confined establishments after the entry

Following their entry into the Union, ungulates originating from a confined establishment in a third country or territory, as referred to in Article 27, must remain in the confined establishment of destination for a period of at least 6 months prior to the date of movement to another confined establishment in the Union, unless they are exported from the Union or moved for slaughter.

TITLE 3

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR POULTRY AND CAPTIVE BIRDS

CHAPTER 1

Specific animal health requirements for poultry

SECTION 1

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SPECIES AND CATEGORIES OF POULTRY

Article 36

Poultry imported into the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof prior to entry into Union

1.   The following consignments shall only be permitted to enter the Union where the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin has provided guarantees in accordance with paragraph 2:

(a)

poultry imported into the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof from another third country or territory or zone thereof;

(b)

day-old chicks from parent flocks that were imported into the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof from another third country or territory or zone thereof.

2.   Consignments of animals referred to in paragraph 1 shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin of the poultry has provided guarantees that:

(a)

those poultry and parent flocks referred to in that paragraph were imported from a third country or territory or zone thereof, which is listed for entry into Union of such consignments;

(b)

the import of the poultry and parent flocks referred to paragraph 1 into that third country or territory or zone thereof took place in accordance with animal health requirements that are at least as stringent as those applicable to consignments of those animals entering directly into the Union.

Article 37

Requirements concerning the third country or territory of origin of poultry or zone thereof

Consignments of poultry shall only be permitted to enter the Union if such consignments originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof which complies with the following requirements:

(a)

it has a disease surveillance programme for highly pathogenic avian influenza in place for a period of at least 6 months prior to the date of dispatch of the consignment to the Union and that surveillance programme complies with the requirements laid down in either:

(i)

Annex II to this Regulation;

or

(ii)

the relevant Chapter of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE);

(b)

it is considered to be free from highly pathogenic avian influenza in accordance with Article 38;

(c)

where it carries out vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza, the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin has provided guarantees that:

(i)

the vaccination programme complies with the requirements set out in Annex XIII;

(ii)

the surveillance programme referred to in point (a) of this Article, in addition to the requirements set out in Annex II, complies with the requirements set out in point 2 of Annex XIII;

(iii)

it has undertaken to inform the Commission of any change to the vaccination programme in the third country or territory or zone thereof;

(d)

which:

(i)

in the case of poultry other than ratites, it is considered free from infection with Newcastle disease virus in accordance with Article 39;

(ii)

in the case of ratites:

it is considered free from infection with Newcastle disease virus in accordance with Article 39,

or

it is not considered free from infection with Newcastle disease virus in accordance with Article 39, but the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin has provided guarantees regarding compliance with the requirements for infection with Newcastle disease virus in relation to isolation, surveillance and testing, as set out in Annex XIV;

(e)

where vaccination against infection with Newcastle disease virus is carried out, the competent authority of the third country or territory has provided guarantees that:

(i)

the vaccines used comply with the general and the specific criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV;

or

(ii)

the vaccines used comply with the general criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV and the poultry meet the animal health requirements set out in point 2 of Annex XV for poultry and hatching eggs originating from a third country or territory or zone thereof where vaccines used against infection with Newcastle disease virus do not meet the specific criteria set out in point 1 of Annex XV;

(f)

it has undertaken that following any outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or an outbreak of infection with Newcastle disease virus, to submit the following information to the Commission:

(i)

information on the disease situation within 24 hours of confirmation of any initial outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or infection with Newcastle disease virus;

(ii)

regular updates on the disease situation;

(g)

which has undertaken to submit virus isolates from initial outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza and infection with Newcastle disease virus to the European Union Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease.

Article 38

Freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza of the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof

1.   A third country or territory or zone thereof shall be considered as being free from highly pathogenic avian influenza when it has provided the following guarantees to the Commission:

(a)

a surveillance programme for highly pathogenic avian influenza, in accordance with Article 37(a) has been carried out during a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of certification of the consignment by the official veterinarian for dispatch to the Union;

(b)

no outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has occurred in poultry in that third country or territory or zone thereof for a period of at least 12 months preceding the date of certification of the consignment by the official veterinarian for dispatch to the Union.

2.   Following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a third country or territory or zone thereof previously considered as free of that disease, as referred to in paragraph 1, that third country or territory or zone thereof shall again be considered as free from highly pathogenic avian influenza, subject to compliance with the following conditions:

(a)

a stamping out policy has been implemented to control highly pathogenic avian influenza;

(b)

adequate cleaning and disinfection has been carried out on all previously infected establishments;

(c)

during a period of at least 3 months following the completion of the stamping out policy and cleaning and disinfection referred to in points (a) and (b), the competent authority of the third country or territory has carried out a surveillance programme, providing at least the confidence by a randomised representative sample of the populations at risk to demonstrate the absence of infection taking into account the specific epidemiological circumstances in relation to the occurred outbreak(s), with negative results.

Article 39

Freedom from infection with Newcastle disease virus of the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof

1.   A third country or territory or zone thereof shall be considered free from infection with Newcastle disease virus when no outbreak of infection with Newcastle disease virus has occurred in poultry in that third country or territory or zone thereof for a period of at least 12 months preceding the date of certification of the consignment by the official veterinarian for dispatch to the Union.

2.   When an outbreak of infection with Newcastle disease virus occurs in a third country or territory or zone thereof previously free from that disease, as referred to in paragraph 1, that third country or territory or zone thereof shall again be considered as free from that infection with Newcastle disease virus subject to compliance with the following conditions:

(a)

a stamping out policy has been implemented to control the disease;

(b)

adequate cleaning and disinfection has been carried out on all previously infected establishments;

(c)

during a period of at least 3 months following the completion of the stamping out policy and cleaning and disinfection referred to in points (a) and (b), the competent authority of the third country or territory has demonstrated the absence of that disease in the third country or territory or zone thereof by intensified investigations including laboratory testing in relation to the outbreak.

Article 40

The establishment of origin of poultry

1.   Consignments of breeding poultry and productive poultry shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment come from establishments approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin in accordance with requirements which are at least as stringent as to those laid down in Article 8 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035, and:

(a)

the approval of which has not been suspended or withdrawn;

(b)

within a 10 km radius of which, including, where appropriate, the territory of a neighbouring country, there has been no outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or infection with Newcastle disease virus during the period of at least 30 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union;

(c)

in which no confirmed case of infection with low pathogenic avian influenza viruses has been reported during the period of at least 21 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union.

2.   Consignments of poultry intended for slaughter shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment come from establishments:

(a)

within a 10 km radius of which, including, where appropriate, the territory of a neighbouring country, there has been no outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or infection with Newcastle disease virus during the period of at least 30 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union;

(b)

in which no confirmed case of infection with low pathogenic avian influenza viruses has been reported during the period of at least 21 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union.

3.   Consignments of day-old chicks shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment:

(a)

have been hatched in establishments approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin in accordance with requirements which are at least as stringent as to those laid down in Article 7 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035; and

(i)

the approval of which has not been suspended or withdrawn;

(ii)

within a 10 km radius of which, including, where appropriate, the territory of a neighbouring country, there has been no outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or infection with Newcastle disease virus during the period of at least 30 days prior to the date of dispatch to the Union;

(b)

come from flocks which have been kept in establishments approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin in accordance with requirements which are at least as stringent as to those laid down in Article 8 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035, and

(i)

the approval of which had not been suspended or withdrawn at the time the hatching eggs, from which the day-old chick were hatched, were sent to the hatchery;

(ii)

in which no confirmed case of infection with low pathogenic avian influenza viruses has been reported during the period of at least 21 days prior to the date of collection of the hatching eggs from which the day-old chicks were hatched.

Article 41

Specific preventive measures for the containers in which poultry are transported

Consignments of poultry shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if such consignments have been transported in containers which, in addition to the requirements of Article 18, comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they are closed in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin in order to avoid any possibility of substitution of the contents;

(b)

they bear the information for the particular species and category of poultry set out in Annex XVI;

(c)

in the case of day-old chicks, they are disposable, clean and used for the first time.

Article 42

Entry of poultry into Member States with status free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination

1.   Consignments of breeding poultry and productive poultry intended for a Member State with status free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they have not been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus;

(b)

they have been kept in isolation during a period of at least 14 days prior to the date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union in the establishment of origin or quarantine establishment under the supervision of an official veterinarian, where:

(i)

no poultry has been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus during a period of at least 21 days prior to the date of loading of the consignment;

(ii)

no bird which does not form part of the consignment has entered into the establishment during period referred to in point (i);

(iii)

no vaccination has been carried out;

(c)

they have tested negative, during the period of at least 14 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union, to serological tests to detect antibodies against Newcastle disease virus, performed on blood samples at a level which gives 95 % confidence of detecting infection at 5 % prevalence.

2.   Consignments of poultry intended for slaughter intended for a Member State with status free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination, shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment come from flocks which:

(a)

have not been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus and have tested negative, during a period of at least 14 days prior to the date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union, to serological tests to detect antibodies against Newcastle disease virus performed on blood samples at a level which gives 95 % confidence of detecting infection at 5 % prevalence;

or

(b)

have been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus but not with a live vaccine during the period of at least 30 days prior to the date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union and underwent a virus isolation test for infection with Newcastle disease virus in the 14 days prior to that date on a random sample of cloacal swabs or faeces samples taken from at least 60 birds and tested negative.

3.   Consignments of day-old chicks intended for a Member State with status free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment:

(a)

have not been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus;

(b)

come from hatching eggs coming from flocks which comply with one of the following:

(i)

they have not been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus;

or

(ii)

they have been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus using an inactivated vaccine;

or

(iii)

they have been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus using a live vaccine at the latest 60 days prior to the date the eggs were collected;

(c)

come from a hatchery where working practices ensure that the eggs of day-old chicks intended for entry into the Union are incubated at completely separate times and locations from eggs not satisfying the requirements laid down in point (b).

SECTION 2

SPECIFIC ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR BREEDING AND PRODUCTIVE POULTRY

Article 43

Identification of breeding ratites and productive ratites

Consignments of breeding ratites and productive ratites shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment are individually identified by neck-tags or an injectable transponder:

(a)

with the code of the third country or territory of origin conforming with ISO Standard 3166 in the format of two-letter;

(b)

which comply with ISO standards 11784 and 11785.

Article 44

Specific animal health requirements for the flock of origin of consignments of breeding and productive poultry

Consignments of breeding poultry and productive poultry shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment originate from flocks which comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the flocks have not been vaccinated against highly pathogenic avian influenza;

(b)

if the flocks have been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus:

(i)

guarantees have been provided by the competent authorities of the third country or territory of origin that the vaccines used comply either with:

the general and the specific criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV,

or

the general criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV, and the poultry meet the animal health requirements set out in point 2 of Annex XV for poultry and hatching eggs originating from a third country or territory or zone thereof where vaccines used against infection with Newcastle disease virus do not meet the specific criteria set out in point 1 of Annex XV;

(ii)

the information set out in point 4 of Annex XV must be provided for the consignment;

(c)

the flocks have undergone a disease surveillance programme that meets the requirements set out in Annex II of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035, and were found not to be infected or showed any ground for suspecting any infection by the following agents:

(i)

Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Gallinarum and Mycoplasma gallisepticum in case of Gallus gallus;

(ii)

Salmonella arizonae (serogroup O:18(k)), Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Gallinarum, Mycoplasma meleagridis and Mycoplasma gallisepticum in case of Meleagris gallopavo;

(iii)

Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum in case of Numida meleagris, Coturnix coturnix, Phasianus colchicus, Perdix perdix, Anas spp.;

(d)

the flocks are kept in establishments which, in case of confirmation of infection with Salmonella Pullorum, S. Gallinarum and S. arizonae during the last 12 months prior to date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union have applied the following measures:

(i)

the infected flock has been slaughtered or it has been killed and destroyed;

(ii)

following the slaughter or killing of the infected flock referred to in point (i), the establishment has been cleaned and disinfected;

(iii)

following the cleaning and disinfection referred to in point (ii), all flocks on the establishment tested negative for infection with Salmonella Pullorum, S. Gallinarum and S. arizonae in two tests performed with an interval of at least 21 days in accordance with the disease surveillance programme referred to in point (c);

(e)

the flocks are kept in establishments which in case of confirmation of avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. meleagridis) during the last 12 months prior to date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union have applied the following measures:

either

(i)

the infected flock tested negative for avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. meleagridis) in two tests performed in accordance with the disease surveillance programme referred to in point (c) on the entire flock with an interval of at least 60 days;

or

(ii)

the infected flock has been slaughtered or it has been killed and destroyed, the establishment has been cleaned and disinfected and following the cleaning and disinfection all flocks on the establishment tested negative for avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. meleagridis) in two tests performed with an interval of at least 21 days in accordance with the disease surveillance programme referred to in point (c).

SECTION 3

SPECIFIC ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR POULTRY INTENDED FOR SLAUGHTER

Article 45

Specific animal health requirements for the flock of origin of consignments of poultry intended for slaughter

Consignments of poultry intended for slaughter shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment originate from flocks which comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they have not been vaccinated against highly pathogenic avian influenza;

(b)

if they have been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus:

(i)

guarantees have been provided by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin that:

the vaccines used comply with the general and the specific criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV,

or

the vaccines used comply with the general criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV and the poultry meet the animal health requirements set out in point 2 of Annex XV for poultry and hatching eggs originating from a third country or territory or zone thereof where vaccines used against infection with Newcastle disease virus do not meet the specific criteria set out in point 1 of Annex XV;

(ii)

the information set out in point 4 of Annex XV must be provided for each consignment.

SECTION 4

SPECIFIC ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR DAY-OLD CHICKS

Article 46

Specific animal health requirements for the flocks of origin of consignments of day-old chicks

Consignments of day-old chicks shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment originate from flocks which comply with the following requirements:

(a)

if the flocks have been vaccinated against highly pathogenic avian influenza, guarantees for compliance with the minimum requirements for vaccination programmes and additional surveillance set out in Annex XIII, have been provided by the third country or territory of origin;

(b)

if the flocks have been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus:

(i)

guarantees have been provided by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin that the vaccines used comply either with:

the general and the specific criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV,

or

the general criteria for recognised vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV and the poultry and hatching eggs from which the day-old chicks originated meet the animal health requirements set out in point 2 of Annex XV for poultry and hatching eggs originating from a third country or territory or zone thereof where vaccines used against infection with Newcastle disease virus do not meet the specific criteria set out in point 1 of Annex XV;

(ii)

the information set out in point 4 of Annex XV must be provided for each consignment;

(c)

the flocks have undergone a disease surveillance programme that meets the requirements set out in Annex II of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 and were found not to be infected or showed any grounds for suspecting any infection by the following agents:

(i)

Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Gallinarum and Mycoplasma gallisepticum in case of Gallus gallus;

(ii)

Salmonella arizonae (serogroup O:18(k)), Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Gallinarum, Mycoplasma meleagridis and Mycoplasma gallisepticum in case of Meleagris gallopavo;

(iii)

Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum in case of Numida meleagris, Coturnix coturnix, Phasianus colchicus, Perdix perdix, Anas spp.;

(d)

the flocks are kept in establishments which, in case of confirmation of infection with Salmonella Pullorum, S. Gallinarum and S. arizonae during the last 12 months prior to date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union have applied the following measures:

(i)

the infected flock has been slaughtered or it has been killed and destroyed;

(ii)

following the slaughter or killing of the infected flock referred to in point (i), the establishment has been cleaned and disinfected;

(iii)

following the cleaning and disinfection referred to in point (ii), all flocks on the establishment tested negative for infection with Salmonella Pullorum, S. Gallinarum and S. arizonae in two tests performed with an interval of at least 21 days in accordance with the disease surveillance programme referred to in point (c);

(e)

the flocks are kept in establishments which in case of confirmation of avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. meleagridis) during the last 12 months prior to date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union have applied the following measures:

either

(i)

the infected flock tested negative for avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. meleagridis) in two tests performed in accordance with the disease surveillance programme referred to in point (c) on the entire flock with an interval of at least 60 days;

or

(ii)

the infected flock has been slaughtered or it has been killed and destroyed, the establishment has been cleaned and disinfected and following the cleaning and disinfection all flocks on the establishment tested negative for avian mycoplasmosis (Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. meleagridis) in two tests performed with an interval of at least 21 days in accordance with the disease surveillance programme referred to in point (c).

Article 47

Specific animal health requirements for the hatching eggs of origin of consignments of day-old chicks

Consignments of day-old chicks shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment originate from hatching eggs which:

(a)

comply with the animal health requirements for entry into the Union laid down in Title 2 of Part III;

(b)

prior to being dispatched to the hatchery, the hatching eggs had been marked in accordance with the instruction of the competent authority;

(c)

had been disinfected in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority;

(d)

have had no contact with poultry or hatching eggs of a lower health status, captive birds or wild birds, either during transport to the hatchery or in the hatchery.

Article 48

Specific animal health requirements for the day-old chicks

Consignments of day-old chicks shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment have not been vaccinated against avian influenza.

SECTION 5

SPECIFIC ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR LESS THAN 20 HEADS OF POULTRY

Article 49

Derogation and specific requirements for consignments of less than 20 heads of poultry, other than ratites

By way of derogation from Article 14(3), Article 17, Article 18, Article 40 and Article 41 and Articles 43 to 48, consignments containing less than 20 heads of poultry other than ratites, shall be permitted to enter the Union provided that such consignments comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the poultry come from establishments where:

(i)

no confirmed case of infection with low pathogenic avian influenza viruses has been reported during the period of at least 21 days prior to date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union or the date of collection of the hatching eggs from which the day-old chicks were hatched;

(ii)

within a 10 km radius of the establishment, including, where appropriate, the territory of a neighbouring country, there has been no outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or infection with Newcastle disease virus for a period of at least 30 days prior to date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union;

(b)

the poultry or, in the case of day-old chicks, the flock of origin of the day-old chicks, have been isolated on the establishment of origin for a period of at least 21 days prior to the date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union;

(c)

as regards vaccination against highly pathogenic avian influenza:

(i)

the poultry not been vaccinated against highly pathogenic avian influenza;

(ii)

where the parent flocks of the day-old chicks have been vaccinated against highly pathogenic avian influenza, guarantees for compliance with the minimum requirements for vaccination programmes and additional surveillance set out in Annex XIII have been provided by the third country or territory of origin;

(d)

where the poultry or the parent flock of the day-old chicks have been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus:

(i)

guarantees have been provided by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin that the vaccines used comply either with:

the general and the specific criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV,

or

the general criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV and the poultry meet the animal health requirements set out in point 2 of Annex XV for poultry and hatching eggs originating from a third country or territory or zone thereof where vaccines used against infection with Newcastle disease virus do not meet the specific criteria set out in point 1 of Annex XV;

(ii)

the information set out in point 4 of Annex XV must be provided for each consignment;

(e)

the poultry or, in the case of day-old chicks the flock of origin of the day-old chicks, were found not to be infected or showed any grounds for suspecting any infection by the following agents in tests performed in accordance with the requirements for testing of consignments of less than 20 heads of poultry other than ratites and less than 20 hatching eggs thereof prior to the entry into the union, set out in Annex XVII;

(i)

Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Gallinarum and Mycoplasma gallisepticum in case of Gallus gallus;

(ii)

Salmonella arizonae (serogroup O:18(k)), Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Gallinarum, Mycoplasma meleagridis and Mycoplasma gallisepticum in case of Meleagris gallopavo;

(iii)

Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum in case of Numida meleagris, Coturnix coturnix, Phasianus colchicus, Perdix perdix, Anas spp.

SECTION 6

SPECIFIC ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR MOVEMENT AND HANDLING OF POULTRY AFTER THE ENTRY INTO THE UNION

Article 50

Obligations on operators at the establishment of destination following the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry

1.   Operators at the establishment of destination shall keep breeding poultry, productive poultry, except productive poultry for restocking supplies of game birds, and day-old chicks which have entered into the Union from a third country or territory or zone thereof on the establishments of destination from their date of arrival for a continuous period of at least:

(a)

6 weeks;

or

(b)

until the day of slaughter, when the animals are slaughtered within 6 weeks of the date of arrival.

2.   In the case of poultry other than ratites, the 6-week period provided for in paragraph 1(a), may be reduced to 3 weeks, provided that, at the request of the operator, sampling and testing in accordance with Article 51(b) have been carried out with favourable results.

3.   Operators at the establishment of destination shall ensure that poultry referred to in paragraph 1, undergo a clinical inspection carried out by an official veterinarian on the establishment of destination no later than the date of expiry of the relevant periods provided for in that paragraph.

4.   During the periods provided for in paragraph 1, operators shall keep poultry which have entered into the Union from a third country or territory or zone thereof, separate from other flocks of poultry.

5.   Where poultry referred to in paragraph 1 are placed in the same flock as other poultry present at the establishment of destination, the periods referred to in paragraph 1(a) and (b) shall commence from the date of introduction of the last bird on the establishment of destination and no poultry present shall be moved from the flock before the expiry of those periods.

Article 51

Obligation on the competent authorities as regards sampling and testing of consignments of poultry after entry into the Union

The competent authority of the Member State of destination shall ensure that:

(a)

during the periods provided for in Article 50(1), breeding poultry, productive poultry, except productive poultry for restocking supplies of game birds, and day-old chicks which have entered into the Union from a third country or territory or zone thereof, undergo a clinical inspection carried out by an official veterinarian on the establishment of destination no later than the date of expiry of the relevant periods provided for in that Article and, where necessary, sampled for testing to monitor their health status;

(b)

in the case of poultry other than ratites and when it is requested by the operator as referred to in Article 50(2), sampling and testing of poultry other than ratites is carried out in accordance with Annex XVIII.

Article 52

Obligation on the competent authorities as regards sampling and testing following the entry into the Union of consignments of ratites originating from a third country or territory or zone thereof not free from infection with Newcastle disease virus

The competent authority of the Member State of destination shall ensure that breeding ratites, productive ratites and day-old chicks of ratites that have entered into the Union from a third country or territory or zone thereof that is not free from infection with Newcastle disease virus, during the periods provided for in Article 50(1):

(a)

they are subject to a virus detection test for infection with Newcastle disease virus carried out by the competent authority on a cloacal swab or faeces sample from each ratite;

(b)

in the case of consignments of ratites destined for a Member State with status free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination from a third country or territory or zone thereof not free from infection with Newcastle disease virus, in addition to the requirements referred to in point (a), they are subject to a serological test for infection with Newcastle disease virus carried out by the competent authority on each ratite;

(c)

all ratites shall have tested negative to the tests provided for in points (a) and (b) prior to their release from isolation.

CHAPTER 2

Specific animal health requirements for captive birds

SECTION 1

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR CAPTIVE BIRDS

Article 53

Requirements concerning the identification of captive birds

Consignments of captive birds shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment are identified with an individual identification number by means of a unique marked closed leg-ring or an injectable transponder, which contains at least the following information:

(a)

the code of the third country or territory of origin conforming with ISO Standard 3166 in the format of two-letter;

(b)

a unique serial number.

Article 54

Specific preventive measures for the containers in which captive birds are transported

Consignments of captive birds shall only be permitted to enter the Union if such consignments have been transported in containers which, in addition to the requirements regarding containers laid down in Article 18, comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they are closed in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin in order to avoid the possibility of any substitution of the contents;

(b)

they bear the information for the particular species and category of birds set out in Annex XVI;

(c)

they are used for the first time.

Article 55

Requirements concerning the establishment of origin of the consignment of captive birds

Consignments of captive birds shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment come from an establishment which complies with the following requirements:

(a)

it has been approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin as meeting the specific animal requirements laid down in Article 56, and that approval has not been suspended or withdrawn;

(b)

it has been assigned a unique approval number by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin, which has been communicated to the Commission;

(c)

the name and approval number of the establishment of origin appears on a list of establishments drawn up and published by the Commission;

(d)

within a 10 km radius of the establishment, including, where appropriate, the territory of any neighbouring country, there has been no outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or infection with Newcastle disease virus for a period of at least the preceding 30 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union;

(e)

in the case of psittacidae, either:

(i)

avian chlamydiosis has not been confirmed on the establishment for a period of at least the 60 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union and in case avian chlamydiosis has been confirmed on the establishment during the last 6 months prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union, the following measures have been applied:

infected birds and birds likely to be infected have received treatment,

following the completion of the treatment, they have been found negative to laboratory testing for avian chlamydiosis,

after the completion of the treatment, the establishment has been cleaned and disinfected,

at least 60 days have elapsed from the completion of the cleaning and disinfection referred to in the third indent;

or

(ii)

the animals have been kept under veterinary supervision for the 45 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union and were treated against avian chlamydiosis.

Article 56

Specific animal health requirements for the approval, maintenance of approval and suspension, withdrawal or re-granting of the approval of the establishments of origin of the consignment of captive birds

1.   Consignments of captive birds shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment come from establishments approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin as referred to in Article 55, and that comply with the following requirements set out in Annex XIX:

(a)

point 1, in relation to biosecurity measures;

(b)

point 2, in relation to facilities and equipment;

(c)

point 3, in relation to record keeping;

(d)

point 4, in relation to personnel;

(e)

point 5, in relation to health status.

2.   Consignments of captive birds shall only be permitted to enter into the Union if the animals of the consignment come from establishments which are under the control of an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the third country or territory, who shall:

(a)

ensure that the conditions set out in this Article are met;

(b)

visit the premises of the establishment at least once per year;

(c)

audit the activity of the veterinarian of the establishment and the implementation of the annual disease surveillance programme;

(d)

verify that the results of the clinical, post-mortem and laboratory tests on the animals have revealed no occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza, infection with Newcastle disease virus or avian chlamydiosis.

3.   The approval of an establishment of captive birds shall be suspended or withdrawn where that establishment no longer complies with the conditions set out in paragraphs 1 and 2, or there has been a change of use so that it is no longer used exclusively for captive birds.

4.   The approval of an establishment of captive birds shall be suspended when the competent authority of the third country or territory has received notification of the suspicion of highly pathogenic avian influenza, infection with Newcastle disease virus or avian chlamydiosis, and until the suspicion has been officially ruled out. Following the notification of suspicion, the necessary measures to confirm or rule out the suspicion and to avoid any spread of disease shall be taken, in accordance with the requirements of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

5.   When the approval of an establishment has been suspended or withdrawn, the establishment shall again be approved provided the following conditions are met:

(a)

the disease and the source of infection has been eradicated;

(b)

adequate cleaning and disinfection has been carried out on previously infected establishments;

(c)

the establishment fulfils the conditions laid down in paragraph 1.

6.   Consignments of captive birds shall only be permitted to enter into the Union when the third country or territory of origin has undertaken to inform the Commission of the suspension, withdrawal or re-granting of approval of any establishment.

Article 57

Specific animal health requirements for the captive birds

Consignments of captive birds shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment:

(a)

have not been vaccinated against highly pathogenic avian influenza;

(b)

have been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus and the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin has provided guarantees that the vaccines used comply with the general and specific criteria for vaccines against infection with Newcastle disease virus set out in point 1 of Annex XV;

(c)

have been subjected to a virus detection test for highly pathogenic avian influenza and Newcastle disease with negative results, within a period of 7 to 14 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union.

Article 58

Requirements concerning the entry of consignments of captive birds into Member States with status free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination

Consignments of captive birds of galliformes species intended for a Member State with status free from infection with Newcastle disease virus without vaccination, shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment:

(a)

have not be vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus;

(b)

have been kept in isolation for a period of at least 14 days prior to the date of loading of the consignment for dispatch to the Union in the establishment of origin or quarantine establishment in the third country or territory of origin under the supervision of an official veterinarian, where:

(i)

no bird has been vaccinated against infection with Newcastle disease virus during the period of 21 days preceding the date of dispatch of the consignment;

(ii)

no bird which was not intended for the consignment has entered into the establishment during that time;

(iii)

no vaccination has been carried out on the establishment;

(c)

have tested negative, during the period of 14 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union, to serological tests to detect the presence of antibodies against Newcastle disease virus, performed on blood samples at a level which gives 95 % confidence of detecting infection at 5 % prevalence.

SECTION 2

SPECIFIC ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR MOVEMENT AND HANDLING OF CAPTIVE BIRDS AFTER THEIR ENTRY INTO THE UNION

Article 59

Requirements concerning the movement of captive birds after entry into the Union

Following their entry into the Union, consignments of captive birds shall be transported without delay directly to a quarantine establishment approved in accordance with Article 14 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035, as follows:

(a)

the total journey from the point of entry into the Union to the quarantine establishment must not exceed 9 hours;

(b)

vehicles used for the transport of the consignment to the quarantine establishment must be sealed by the competent authority in such a way that prevents the possibility of any substitution of the contents.

Article 60

Obligation on operators at the quarantine establishment following the entry into the Union of consignments of captive birds

Operators of the quarantine establishment for the captive birds referred to in Article 59 shall:

(a)

keep captive birds quarantined for a period of at least 30 days;

(b)

where sentinel birds are used for examination, sampling and testing procedures, ensure that:

(i)

a minimum number of 10 sentinel birds are used in each unit of the quarantine establishment;

(ii)

they are at least 3 weeks old and used only once for those purposes;

(iii)

they are either leg-banded for identification purposes or identified with another non-removable means of identification;

(iv)

they are unvaccinated and have been found sero-negative for highly pathogenic avian influenza and infection with Newcastle disease virus within a period of 14 days prior to the date of commencement of quarantine;

(v)

they are placed in the approved quarantine establishment before the arrival of the captive birds in the common air space and as close as possible to the captive birds so that close contact between the sentinel birds and the excrements of the captive birds in quarantine is ensured;

(vi)

release the captive birds from quarantine only on the written authorisation of an official veterinarian.

Article 61

Obligation on the competent authorities following the entry into the Union of consignments of captive birds

Following the arrival of the captive birds in the quarantine establishment referred to in Article 59, the competent authority shall:

(a)

inspect the conditions of quarantine, including an examination of the mortality records and a clinical inspection of the captive birds, at least at the beginning and the end of quarantine period;

(b)

subject the captive birds to testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza and infection with Newcastle disease virus, in accordance with the examination, sampling and testing procedures set out in Annex XX.

SECTION 3

DEROGATIONS FROM THE ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNION OF CAPTIVE BIRDS AND FOR MOVEMENT AND HANDLING OF THOSE BIRDS AFTER THEIR ENTRY INTO THE UNION

Article 62

Derogation from animal health requirements for captive birds originating from certain third countries or territories

By way of derogation from requirements laid down in Articles 3 to 10 of Part I, except point (a)(i) of Article 3, Articles 11 to 19 and Articles 53 to 61, consignments of captive birds which do not comply with those requirements shall be permitted to enter the Union if they originate from third countries or territories specifically listed for the entry into the Union of captive birds based on equivalent guarantees.

TITLE 4

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR HONEYBEES AND BUMBLE BEES

CHAPTER 1

General animal health requirements for honeybees and bumble bees

Article 63

Authorised categories of bees

Only consignments of the following categories of bees shall be permitted to enter the Union:

(a)

queen honeybees;

(b)

bumble bees.

Article 64

Dispatch to the Union of honeybees and bumble bees

Consignments of queen honeybees and bumble bees shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the packaging material and queen cages used to dispatch the honeybees and bumble bees into the Union must:

(i)

be new;

(ii)

not have been in contact with any bees and brood combs;

(iii)

have been subject to all precautions to prevent their contamination with pathogens causing diseases of honeybees or bumble bees;

(b)

the feedingstuff accompanying the honeybees and bumble bees must be free from pathogens causing their diseases;

(c)

the packaging material and accompanying products must have undergone a visual examination prior to dispatch to the Union to ensure that they do not pose an animal health risk and do not contain:

(i)

in the case of honeybees, Aethina tumida (Small hive beetle) and Tropilaelaps mite in any of their life stages;

(ii)

in the case of bumble bees, Aethina tumida (Small hive beetle), in any of their life stages.

CHAPTER 2

Specific animal health requirements for queen honeybees

Article 65

The apiary of origin of queen honeybees

Consignments of queen honeybees shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the honeybees of the consignment originate from an apiary which is situated in an area:

(a)

of at least a 100 km radius, including where appropriate the territory of a neighbouring third country:

(i)

where infestation with Aethina tumida (Small hive beetle) or infestation with Tropilaelaps spp. has not been reported;

(ii)

there are no restrictions in place due to a suspicion, case or outbreak of the diseases referred to in (i);

(b)

of at least 3 km radius, including where appropriate the territory of a neighbouring third country:

(i)

American foulbrood has not been reported for a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union;

(ii)

there are no restrictions in place due to a suspicion or a confirmed case of American foulbrood during the period referred to in point (i);

(iii)

where there had been a previous confirmed case of American foulbrood before the period referred to in point (i), all hives were subsequently checked by the competent authority in the third country or territory of origin and all infected hives were treated and subsequently inspected with favourable results within a period of 30 days from the date of last recorded case of that disease.

Article 66

The hive of origin of queen honeybees

Consignments of queen honeybees shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the honeybees of the consignment originate from hives from which samples of the comb have been tested for American foulbrood with negative results within the period of 30 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union.

Article 67

The consignment of queen honeybees

Consignments of queen honeybees shall only be permitted to enter the Union if such consignments are in closed cages, each containing one single queen honeybee with a maximum of 20 accompanying attendants.

Article 68

Additional guarantees for queen honeybees destined to certain Member States or zone as regards the infestation with Varroa spp. (Varroosis)

Consignments of queen honeybees destined to a Member State or zone with disease-free status for infestation with Varroa spp. (Varroosis) shall only be permitted to enter the Union if such consignments comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the honeybees of the consignment must originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof free from infestation with infestation with Varroa spp. (Varroosis);

(b)

in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof, infestation with Varroa spp. (Varroosis) has not been reported for a period of 30 days prior to the date of loading for dispatch to the Union;

(c)

every precaution has been taken to avoid contamination of the consignment with Varroa spp. during loading and dispatch to the Union.

CHAPTER 3

Specific animal health requirements for bumble bees

Article 69

The establishment of origin of bumble bees

Consignments of bumble bees shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the bumble bees of the consignment:

(a)

have been bred and kept in an environmentally isolated bumble bee production establishment which:

(i)

has facilities which ensure that the production of bumble bees is carried out inside of a flying insect-proof building;

(ii)

has facilities and equipment which ensure that the bumble bees are further isolated in separate epidemiological units and each colony in closed containers within the building throughout the whole production;

(iii)

the storage and handling of pollen within the facilities is isolated from the bumble bees throughout the whole production of bumble bees until it is fed to them;

(iv)

has standard operating procedures to prevent the entry of small hive beetle into the establishment and to regularly survey for the presence of small hive beetle within the establishment;

(b)

within the establishment referred to in point (a), the bumble bees must come from an epidemiological unit in which infestation with Aethina tumida (Small hive beetle) has not been detected.

Article 70

The consignment of bumble bees

Consignments of bumble bees shall only be permitted to enter the Union if such consignments have been dispatched to the Union in closed containers, each containing a colony of a maximum of 200 adult bumble bees, with or without a queen.

CHAPTER 4

Specific animal health requirements for handling after the entry of queen honeybees and bumble bees

Article 71

Handling after the entry of queen honeybees and bumble bees

1.   Following their entry into the Union, queen honeybees must not be introduced in local colonies unless they are transferred from the transport cage to new cages in accordance with paragraph 2 with the permission and, as appropriate, under the direct supervision of the competent authority.

2.   Following the transfer in new cages as referred to in paragraph 1, the transport cages, attendants, and other material that accompanied the queen honeybees from the third country of origin must be submitted to an official laboratory for examination to rule out the presence of Aethina Tumida (Small hive beetle), including eggs and larvae, and any signs of the Tropilaelaps mite.

3.   Operators receiving bumble bees shall destroy the container and the packaging material that accompanied them from the third country or territory of origin but they may keep them in the container in which they entered into the Union until the end of the lifespan of the colony.

Article 72

Specific obligations for the competent authorities in the Member States

The competent authority of the Member State of the place of destination of consignments of honeybees or bumble bees shall:

(a)

supervise the transfer from the transport cage to the new cages referred to in Article 71(1);

(b)

ensure the submission by the operator of the materials referred to in Article 71(2);

(c)

ensure that the official laboratory referred to in Article 71(2) have arrangements in place to destroy the cages, attendants and the material after the laboratory examination provided for in that provision.

TITLE 5

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNION OF DOGS, CATS AND FERRETS

Article 73

Dispatch of the dogs, cats and ferrets to the Union

1.   Consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets shall only be permitted to enter the Union if such consignments have been dispatched from their establishment of origin to the Union, without passing through any other establishment.

2.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1, consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets coming from more than one establishment of origin may be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment have undergone a single assembly operation in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof subject to compliance with the following conditions:

(a)

the assembly operation took place in an establishment:

(i)

approved for conducting assembly operations of dogs, cats and ferrets by the competent authority in the third country or territory in accordance with requirements at least as stringent as those laid down in Article 10 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035;

(ii)

which has a unique approval number assigned by the competent authority of the third country or territory;

(iii)

listed for that purpose by the competent authority of the third country or territory of dispatch, including the information provided for in Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035;

(iv)

where the following records are kept up-to-date for a period of at least 3 years:

the origin of the animals,

the dates of arrival and dispatch to and from the assembly centre,

the identification code of the animals,

the registration number of the establishment of origin of the animals,

the registration number of the transporters and the means of transport delivering or collecting the consignment of dogs, cats and ferrets to and from that centre;

(b)

the assembly operation in the assembly centre took no longer than 6 days; this period shall be considered as part of the timeframe for sampling for testing prior to dispatch to the Union, where such sampling is required by this Regulation;

(c)

the animals must have arrived in the Union within a period of 10 days from the date of dispatch from the establishment of origin.

Article 74

Identification of dogs, cats and ferrets

1.   Consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment have been individually identified by means of an injectable transponder implanted by a veterinarian which fulfils the technical requirements for means of identification of animals laid down in implementing acts adopted by the Commission pursuant Article 120 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.

2.   Where the implanted injectable transponder referred to in paragraph 1 does not fulfil the technical specifications referred to in that paragraph, the operator responsible for entry into the Union of the consignment shall provide the reading device which enables the verification of the individual identification of the animal at any time.

Article 75

The third country or territory of origin or zone thereof of dogs, cats and ferrets

Consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment originate from a third country or territory or zone thereof where rules on the prevention and control of infection with rabies virus are in force and implemented effectively to minimise the risk of infection of dogs, cats and ferrets, including rules on imports of those species from other third countries or territories.

Article 76

The dogs, cats and ferrets

1.   Consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the animals of the consignment comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they have received a vaccination against infection with rabies virus that complies with the following conditions:

(i)

the animals must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination;

(ii)

the vaccine must comply with the requirements set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (21);

(iii)

at the day of dispatch to the Union, at least 21 days must have elapsed since the completion of the primary vaccination against infection with rabies virus;

(iv)

a certified copy of the vaccination details must be attached to the animal health certificate referred to in Article 3(1)(c)(i);

(b)

they must have undergone a valid rabies antibody titration test, in accordance with point 1 of Annex XXI.

2.   By way of derogation of paragraph 1(b), dogs, cats and ferrets originating in third countries or territories or zones thereof included in the list set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 (22) shall be permitted to enter the Union without being subjected to the rabies titration test.

3.   Consignments of dogs shall be permitted to enter into a Member State with disease-free status for Echinococcus multilocularis or an approved eradication programme for infestation with that disease, if the animals of the consignment have been treated against this infestation in accordance with Part 2 of Annex XXI.

Article 77

Derogation for dogs, cats and ferrets intended for a confined or a quarantine establishment

By way of derogation from Article 76, consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets which do not comply with the requirements regarding vaccination against rabies and requirements regarding infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis shall be permitted to enter the Union provided that such consignments are intended for direct entry either to:

(a)

a confined establishment;

or

(b)

an approved quarantine establishment in the Member State of destination.

Article 78

Moving and handling after the entry into the Union of dogs, cats and ferrets intended for a confined or a quarantine establishment

1.   Consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets intended to a confined establishment in the Union shall be maintained in the confined establishment of destination for a period of at least 60 days after the date of their entry into the Union.

2.   Consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets intended for direct entry to an approved quarantine establishment as referred to in Article 77(b) shall be maintained in that establishment for a period of:

(a)

not less than 6 months from the date of their arrival in the case of non-compliance with the requirements for vaccination against infection with rabies virus provided for in Article 76(1);

or

(b)

in the case of dogs not complying with the requirements for infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis provided for in Article 76(3), 24 hours following a treatment against infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis in accordance with point 2 of Annex XXI.

PART III

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY INTO THE UNION OF GERMINAL PRODUCTS AS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLES 3 AND 5

TITLE 1

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR GERMINAL PRODUCTS OF UNGULATES

CHAPTER 1

General animal health requirements for germinal products of ungulates

Article 79

The third country or territory of origin or zone thereof

Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from animals which come from third countries or territories which comply with the animal health requirements laid down in Article 22.

Article 80

The residency period of donor animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from animals which:

(a)

remained for a period of at least 6 months prior to the date of collection in a third country or territory or zone thereof which is listed for entry into the Union of the particular species and category of germinal product;

(b)

for a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of first collection of the germinal products and during the collection period:

(i)

were kept on establishments not situated in a restricted zone established due to the occurrence in bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals of a category A disease or of an emerging disease relevant for the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine or equine animals;

(ii)

were kept on a single establishment on which no category D diseases relevant for the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine or equine animals were reported;

(iii)

were not in contact with animals from establishments, situated in a restricted zone referred to in (i) or from establishments referred to in (ii);

(iv)

were not used for natural breeding.

Article 81

Identification of donor animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from animals which were identified in accordance with Article 21.

Article 82

The germinal product establishments

1.   Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were dispatched from approved germinal product establishments which are listed by competent authorities of listed third countries or territories or zones thereof.

2.   Consignments of germinal products shall only be permitted to enter the Union from approved germinal product establishments referred to in paragraph 1 that comply with the following requirements set out in Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686:

(a)

Part 1 of that Annex, in respect of a semen collection centre;

(b)

Part 2 of that Annex, in respect of an embryo collection team;

(c)

Part 3 of that Annex, in respect of an embryo production team;

(d)

Part 4 of that Annex, in respect of a germinal product processing establishment;

(e)

Part 5 of that Annex, in respect of a germinal product storage centre.

Article 83

The germinal products

Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of animals of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if those germinal products comply with the following requirements:

(a)

they are marked in such a way that the following information can be readily established:

(i)

the date of collection or production of those germinal products;

(ii)

the species and identification of the donor animal(s);

(iii)

the unique approval number, which shall include the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code of the country in which the approval is granted;

(iv)

any other relevant information;

(b)

they fulfil animal health requirements for the collection, production, processing and storage set out in Annex III to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686.

Article 84

The transport of germinal products

1.   Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of animals of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if:

(a)

they were placed in a container which complies with the following requirements:

(i)

it was sealed and numbered prior to the dispatch from the approved germinal product establishment under the responsibility of a centre or a team veterinarian, or by an official veterinarian;

(ii)

it was cleaned and either disinfected or sterilised before use, or is single-use container;

(iii)

it was filled in with the cryogenic agent which was not previously used for other products;

(b)

only one type of germinal products of one species was placed in the container referred to in point (a).

2.   By the way of derogation from paragraph 1(b), operators may place in one container semen, oocytes and embryos of the same species provided that:

(a)

straws or other packages in which germinal products are placed are securely and hermetically sealed;

(b)

the germinal products of different types are separated from each other by physical compartments or by being placed in secondary protective bags.

3.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1(b), operators may place in one container semen, oocytes and embryos of ovine and caprine animals.

Article 85

Additional requirements for the transport of semen

Consignments of semen bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine animals which has been collected from more than one donor animal and placed in a single straw or another package for the purposes of entry into the Union shall only be permitted to enter the Union if:

(a)

that semen was collected and dispatched from a single semen collection centre where it was collected;

(b)

there were procedures in place as regards processing of that semen in order to ensure that it complies with the marking requirements of point (a) of Article 83.

CHAPTER 2

Specific animal health requirements for germinal products of bovine animals

Article 86

The establishment of origin of donor bovine animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of bovine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from animals which came from establishments that comply with the following requirements and those animals have never been kept previously in any establishment of a lower health status:

(a)

comply with the requirements of Article 23;

(b)

in the case of donor animals of semen prior to their admission to a quarantine accommodation, were free from the following diseases:

(i)

infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. bovis, M. caprae and M. tuberculosis);

(ii)

infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis;

(iii)

enzootic bovine leukosis;

(iv)

infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis.

Article 87

Derogations from the requirements for the establishment of origin of donor bovine animals

1.   By the way of derogation from Article 86(b)(iii), consignments of semen of bovine animals shall be permitted to enter the Union if a donor animal comes from an establishment which is not free from enzootic bovine leukosis and:

(a)

is younger than 2 years of age and which has been produced by a dam which has been subjected, with negative results, to a serological test for enzootic bovine leukosis after removal of the animal from the dam;

or

(b)

has reached the age of 2 years and has been subjected, with a negative result, to a serological test for enzootic bovine leukosis.

2.   By the way of derogation from Article 86(b)(iii), consignments of oocytes and embryos of bovine animals shall be permitted to enter the Union if a donor animal comes from an establishment which is not free from enzootic bovine leukosis and is less than 2 years of age, and provided that the official veterinarian responsible for the establishment of origin has certified that there has been no clinical case of enzootic bovine leukosis during a period of at least the preceding 3 years.

3.   By the way of derogation from Article 86(b)(iv), consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of bovine animals shall be permitted to enter the Union if a donor animal comes from an establishment which is not free from infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis, provided that:

(a)

in the case of semen, the animal has been subjected, with a negative result, to a test required in accordance with point 1(b)(iv) of Chapter I of Part 1 of Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686;

(b)

in the case of oocytes or embryos, the official veterinarian responsible for the establishment of origin has certified that there has been no clinical case of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis during a period of at least the preceding 12 months.

Article 88

Specific animal health requirements for donor bovine animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes or embryos shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from donor bovine animals that comply with the animal health requirements laid down in Part 1 and Chapters I, II and III of Part 5 of Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686.

CHAPTER 3

Specific animal health requirements for germinal products of porcine animals

Article 89

The establishment of origin of donor porcine animals

1.   Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of porcine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from animals which came from establishments:

(a)

which comply with the requirements laid down in Article 23;

(b)

in the case of donor animals of semen prior their admission to a quarantine accommodation, in which no clinical, serological, virological or pathological evidence of infection with Aujeszky’s disease virus had been detected during the period of at least the preceding 12 months.

2.   Consignments of semen of porcine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from animals:

(a)

prior to their admission to a quarantine accommodation, which came from establishments which were free from infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis in accordance with requirements laid down in Chapter IV of Part 5 of Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686;

(b)

which were kept at a quarantine accommodation which on the date of admission was free of infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis for a period of at least the 3 months preceding that date;

(c)

which were kept in a semen collection centre in which no clinical, serological, virological or pathological evidence of infection with Aujeszky’s disease virus was reported for the period of at least 30 days prior to the date of admission and of at least 30 days immediately prior to the date of collection;

(d)

which were kept, since birth or for at least 3 months prior to the date of entry into the quarantine accommodation, in an establishment in which no animals were vaccinated against infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus and no infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus was detected within that period.

Article 90

Specific animal health requirements for donor porcine animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes or embryos shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from donor porcine animals that:

(a)

comply with the specific animal health requirements laid down in Part 2 and Chapters I, II, III and IV of Part 5 of Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686;

(b)

were not vaccinated against infection with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

CHAPTER 4

Specific animal health requirements for germinal products of ovine and caprine animals

Article 91

The establishment of origin of donor ovine and caprine animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of ovine and caprine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from donor animals which:

(a)

did not come from an establishment, nor been in contact with animals from an establishment, in the case of a kept donor animal of semen prior to its admission to a quarantine accommodation, which has been subjected to movement restrictions as regards infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis. The movement restrictions concerning the establishment are lifted after the period comprising at least 42 days from the date of the slaughter and the disposal of the last animal infected or susceptible to that disease;

(b)

come from an establishment, that was free from infection with B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis and has never been kept previously in any establishment of a lower status.

Article 92

Specific animal health requirements for donor ovine and caprine animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes or embryos of ovine and caprine animal shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from donor animals that fulfil specific animal health requirements laid down in Part 3 and Chapters I, II and III of Part 5 of Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686.

CHAPTER 5

Specific animal health requirements for germinal products of equine animals

Article 93

The establishment of origin of donor equine animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from donor animals which come from establishments which comply with the requirements laid down in Article 23.

Article 94

Specific animal health requirements for donor equine animals

Consignments of semen, oocytes or embryos of equine animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the donor animals of those germinal products comply with the requirements laid down Article 24(1)(a)(ii) and (b)(ii) and Article 24(6) of this Regulation, and the additional specific animal health requirements laid down in Part 4 of Annex II to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686.

CHAPTER 6

Special rules for germinal products of ungulates intended for confined establishments

Article 95

Germinal products intended for confined establishments in the Union

Consignments of semen, oocytes and embryos of bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine animals dispatched from confined establishments in third countries or territories listed in accordance with Article 29 shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they are dispatched to a confined establishment in the Union subject to compliance with the following requirements:

(a)

an assessment was carried out by the competent authority of the Member State of destination of the risks associated with the entry into the Union of those germinal products;

(b)

the donor animals of those germinal products originate from a confined establishment in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof, which is included in a list established in accordance with Article 29 of confined establishments from which the entry of ungulates into the Union may be authorised;

(c)

the germinal products are destined to a confined establishment in the Union, which is approved in accordance with Article 95 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(d)

the germinal products are transported directly to the confined establishment referred to in point (c).

Article 96

Specific animal health requirements for donor animals kept in confined establishment

Consignments of the germinal products referred to in Article 95 shall be only permitted to enter the Union if they were collected from donor animals that comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the donor animals did not come from an establishment, nor been in contact with animals from an establishment, situated in a restricted zone established due to the occurrence of a category A disease or of an emerging disease relevant for the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine or equine animals;

(b)

the donor animals come from an establishment where none of the category D diseases relevant for bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine or equine animals have been reported for a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of collection of the semen, oocytes or embryos;

(c)

the donor animals remained in a single confined establishment of origin for a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of collection of semen, oocytes or embryos intended for entry into the Union and during the period of that collection;

(d)

the donor animals were clinically examined by the establishment veterinarian responsible for the activities carried out at confined establishment, and showed no disease symptoms on the day the semen, oocytes or embryos were collected;

(e)

as much as possible, the donor animals were not used for natural breeding during a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of first collection of semen, oocytes or embryos intended for entry into the Union and during the period of that collection;

(f)

the donor animals are identified in accordance with Article 21.

Article 97

The requirements for germinal products obtained in confined establishments

Consignments of germinal products referred to in Article 95 shall only be permitted to enter the Union if they are:

(a)

marked in accordance with the information requirements provided for in point (a) of Article 83;

(b)

transported in accordance with Articles 84 and 85.

TITLE 2

ANIMAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR HATCHING EGGS OF POULTRY AND CAPTIVE BIRDS

CHAPTER 1

Animal health requirements for hatching eggs

Article 98

The residency period

Consignments of hatching eggs shall only be permitted to enter the Union if, immediately prior to the date of loading of the hatching eggs for dispatch to the Union the flock of origin of the hatching eggs has complied, for a continuous period of time, with the residency periods requirements set out in Annex XXII, and during that time the flock of origin has:

(a)

remained in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof;

(b)

remained in the establishment of origin, and no animals have been introduced into that establishment during that period of time prior to loading;

(c)

had no contact with poultry or hatching eggs of a lower health status, or with captive birds or wild birds.

Article 99

Handling of hatching eggs during transport to the Union

Consignments of hatching eggs shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the germinal products of the consignment comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the hatching eggs intended for entry into the Union must not have come into contact with poultry, captive birds or hatching eggs not intended for entry into the Union or of a lower health status from the time of loading at the establishment of origin for dispatch to the Union until the time of arrival in the Union;

(b)

the hatching eggs must not have been transported, unloaded in, or moved to another means of transport when transported by road, by sea or by air through a third country or territory or zone thereof which is not listed for entry of the particular species and category of hatching eggs into the Union.

Article 100

Derogation and additional requirements for transhipment of hatching eggs in case of an incident in the means of transport by waterway or by air

By way of derogation from point (b) of Article 99, consignments of hatching eggs which have been transhipped from the means of transport of dispatch into another means of transport for onward travel in a third country or territory or zone thereof which is not listed for entry of hatching eggs into the Union, shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the transhipment took place because of the occurrence of a technical problem or another unforeseen incident causing logistic problems during the transport of the hatching eggs to the Union by sea or by air, in order to complete the transport to the point of entry into Union, and provided that:

(a)

the entry into the Union of the hatching eggs is authorised by the competent authority of the Member State of destination and, where applicable, the Member States of passage until their arrival at their place of destination in the Union;

(b)

the transhipment was supervised by an official veterinarian or the responsible customs officer and throughout the operation:

(i)

effective measures were put in place to avoid any direct or indirect contact between the hatching eggs intended for entry into the Union and any other hatching eggs or animals;

(ii)

the hatching eggs were transferred directly and as quick as possible to the vessel or aircraft to be used for onward travel to the Union, which complies with requirements laid down in Article 17, without leaving the premises of the port or airport;

(c)

the hatching eggs are accompanied by a declaration from the competent authority of the third country or territory where the transfer took place, providing the necessary information on the transfer operation and attesting that the relevant measures were put in place to comply with the requirements laid down in point (b).

Article 101

Transport by vessel of hatching eggs

1.   Consignments of hatching eggs transported by ship, even for part of the journey, shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the germinal products of the consignment comply with the following requirements:

(a)

hatching eggs:

(i)

have remained on board the vessel during the whole transport;

(ii)

have not been in contact with birds or other hatching eggs of a lower health status while on board the vessel;

(b)

hatching eggs transported in accordance with point (a) must be accompanied by a declaration, providing the following information:

(i)

the port of departure in the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof;

(ii)

the port of arrival in the Union;

(iii)

where the vessel called at ports outside the third country or territory of origin or zone thereof of the consignment, indicating the ports of call;

(iv)

that the hatching eggs complied during the transport with the requirements set out in point (a) and (i), (ii) and (iii) of this point.

2.   The operator responsible for the consignment of hatching eggs shall ensure that the declaration provided for in paragraph 1, is attached to the animal health certificate and signed by the master of the vessel at the port of arrival on the day of arrival of the vessel.

Article 102

Preventive measures for the means of transport and the containers of hatching eggs

Consignments of hatching eggs shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the germinal products of the consignment comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the hatching eggs must have been transported in vehicles which:

(i)

are constructed in such a way that hatching eggs cannot fall out;

(ii)

have been designed to allow cleaning and disinfection;

(iii)

have been cleaned and disinfected with a disinfectant authorised by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin, and dried or allowed to dry immediately before every loading of hatching eggs intented for entry into the Union;

(b)

the hatching eggs must have been transported in containers which comply with the following requirements:

(i)

the requirements of point (a);

(ii)

they contain only hatching eggs of the same species, category and type which come from the same establishment;

(iii)

they were closed in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin to avoid any possibility of substitution of the content;

(iv)

they were:

cleaned and disinfected before loading in accordance with the instructions of the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin,

or