(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin must come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation in order to enter the Union.

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (2) lays down the animal health requirements that 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 thereof in the case of aquaculture animals, must comply with in order to enter the Union.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (3) lays down the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones thereof, from which the entry into the Union of the species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin falling within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 is permitted. Those lists and certain general rules concerning those lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII, to that Implementing Regulation.

(4)

Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 sets out the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof, authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of equine animals. Thailand is listed in that Annex and assigned to Sanitary Group E. The entry into the Union of consignments of registered horses from that third country has been suspended since 6 April 2020 after an outbreak of African horse sickness (AHS) in that country.

(5)

A Commission audit (4) took place in Thailand from 27 February 2024 to 13 March 2024 to evaluate the animal health controls in relation to exports of registered live equidae to the Union, and in particular the animal health guarantees as regards AHS. The outcome of that audit showed that Thailand has successfully eradicated AHS following the outbreak in 2020, and can carry out adequate animal health controls and activities aimed at maintaining the AHS-free status of this third country. However, some shortcomings were also identified, which have since been addressed by that third country. In this regard, Thailand has provided an action plan to comply with the recommendations formulated in the Commission’s audit report, including a surveillance programme for surra (Trypanosoma evansi), as there have now been reported cases of surra in that third country, and that action plan has been positively evaluated by the Commission. In the light of the animal health guarantees provided by Thailand, the entry into the Union of consignments of registered horses from that third country should be re-authorised.

(6)

Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

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