(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down rules for the prevention and control of animal diseases that are transmissible to animals or to humans, including among other things, the animal health requirements applicable to non-commercial movements of pet animals into a Member State from another Member State or from a third country or territory. In particular, it provides that pet animals are not to be moved into a Member State from another Member State or from a third country or territory for non-commercial purposes unless they are accompanied by specific identification documents and declarations.

(2)

Model identification documents and model declarations established in Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) No 577/2013 (2) and (EU) 2021/1938 (3) were adopted pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4). Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 was repealed by Article 270(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as from 21 April 2021. However, Article 277 of that Regulation provides that notwithstanding that repeal, Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 is to continue to apply until 21 April 2026 in respect of non-commercial movements of pet animals. Implementing Regulations (EU) No 577/2013 and (EU) 2021/1938 will therefore become obselete after 21 April 2026.

(3)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 (5) supplements Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards animal health requirements for non-commercial movements of pet animals into a Member State from another Member state or from a third country or territory.

(4)

In accordance with Article 11 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, pet dogs, pet cats or pet ferrets moved into a Member State from another Member State for non-commercial purposes are to be accompanied by an identification document in the form of a passport in accordance with a model to be adopted by the Commission. That model passport is to contain the entries for the insertion of certain information in accordance with that Delegated Regulation, as well as additional requirements concerning language, layout, validity or security features. It is therefore appropriate to set out the model passport and the additional requirements in this Regulation.

(5)

In accordance with Article 18 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, pet dogs, pet cats or pet ferrets moved into a Member State from a third country or territory for non-commercial purposes are to be accompanied by an identification document in the form of an animal health certificate in accordance with a model to be adopted by the Commission. That model animal health certificate is to contain the entries for the insertion of certain information in accordance with that Delegated Regulation, as well as additional requirements concerning language, layout, validity and security features. It is therefore appropriate to set out the model animal health certificate and the additional requirements in this Regulation.

(6)

In accordance with Article 20, point (a), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, pet dogs, pet cats or pet ferrets are allowed to be moved from certain third countries or territories without being accompanied by an animal health certificate, provided that they are accompanied by a passport issued in accordance with a model set out, for that purpose, in Union law. It is therefore appropriate to set out the model passport for those movements in this Regulation.

(7)

In accordance with Article 26 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, pet birds moved into a Member State from a third country or territory for non-commercial purposes are to be accompanied by an identification document in the form of an animal health certificate in accordance with a model to be adopted by the Commission. That model animal health certificate is to contain the entries for the insertion of certain information in accordance with that Delegated Regulation, as well as certain additional requirements concerning language, layout, validity and security features. It is therefore appropriate to set out the model animal health certificate and the additional requirements in this Regulation.

(8)

Article 4 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 requires a written declaration signed by the pet owner authorising an authorised person to carry out the non-commercial movement on their behalf to be attached to the relevant identification document. It is therefore appropriate to set out the format, layout and language requirements for that declaration in this Regulation.

(9)

Article 18(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 provides that a written declaration signed by the pet owner or authorised person, confirming that the movements of the pet dogs, pet cats and pet ferrets into the Union are non-commercial movements is to be attached to the animal health certificate referred to in Article 18(1) of that Delegated Regulation. It is therefore appropriate to set out the format, layout and language requirements for that declaration in this Regulation.

(10)

Article 26(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 provides that a written declaration signed by the pet owner or authorised person, confirming that the movements of the pet birds into the Union are non-commercial movements and indicating the pre- and post-movement arrangements made, is to be attached to the animal health certificate referred to in Article 26(1) of that Delegated Regulation. It is therefore appropriate to set out the format, layout and language requirements for that declaration in this Regulation.

(11)

Pet dogs, pet cats and pet ferrets are not to be moved into a Member State from another Member State unless they have received an anti-rabies vaccination that complies with the validity requirements set out in Part 1 of Annex VII to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 (6). However, according to Article 9 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, the movement of young pet dogs, pet cats and pet ferrets which are not vaccinated or do not meet the validity requirements set out in Part 1 of Annex VII is exceptionally allowed where, inter alia, the owner or the authorised person provides a signed declaration that, from birth until the time of the non-commercial movement, the pet animals have had no contact with wild animals of species susceptible to rabies. It is therefore appropriate to set out the format, layout and language requirements for that declaration in this Regulation.

(12)

Pet dogs, pet cats and pet ferrets are not to be moved into a Member State from a third country or territory other than those referred to in Article 17(1), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, unless they have undergone a rabies antibody titration test that complies with the validity requirements set out in Annex XXI to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (7). The transit through one of those third countries or territories is however not subject to that test where the owner or the authorised person provides a signed declaration that the animals have had no contact with animals of species susceptible to rabies and remain secured within a means of transport or within the perimeter of an international airport. It is therefore appropriate to set out the format, layout and language requirements for that declaration in this Regulation.

(13)

To ensure that stocks of identification documents complying with the relevant provisions of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 can be used for an appropriate time period and to allow Member States to adapt to the new model identification documents, it is necessary to provide for a smooth transition from the application of the repealed provisions on model identification documents for the non-commercial movements of pet animals.

(14)

To avoid any unnecessary disruptions in the non-commercial movements of pet animals this Regulation should repeal Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1938 with effect on the same day when the continued application of the repealed Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 ends and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 applies. This Regulation should, therefore, enter into force as a matter of urgency and apply from 22 April 2026.

(15)

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

(a)

drawn up in accordance with the model set out in Part 1 of Annex III to this Regulation;

(b)

duly completed and issued in accordance with the explanatory notes set out in Part 2 of Annex III to this Regulation;

(c)

supplemented by the written declaration referred to in Article 18(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, drawn up in accordance with the model set out in Part 2 of Annex V to this Regulation and complying with the additional requirements set out in Part 6 of that Annex.

(a)

drawn up in accordance with the model set out in Part 1 of Annex IV to this Regulation;

(b)

duly completed and issued in accordance with the explanatory notes set out in Part 2 of Annex IV to this Regulation;

(c)

supplemented by the written declaration referred to in Article 26(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, drawn up in accordance with the model set out in Part 3 of Annex V to this Regulation and complying with the additional requirements set out in Part 6 of that Annex.

(a)

Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013;

(b)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1938.