(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 into 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 into the Union. In particular, Article 76 of that Delegated Regulation sets out the specific requirements as regards consignments of dogs, cats and ferrets intended for entry into the Union, including in paragraph 1, point (b) of that Article, the rabies antibody titration test requirements for such animals.

(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 particular species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin concerned is permitted. Those lists and certain general rules concerning those lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII to that Implementing Regulation.

(4)

The table in Part 1 of Annex VIII 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 dogs, cats and ferrets. Montenegro and Serbia appear in that list with an assigned specific condition, in column 5 of that table, ‘rabies antibody titration test’. This requires dogs, cats and ferrets of any consignments from those third countries to have undergone a valid rabies antibody titration test in accordance with Article 76(1), point (b), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 before entering into the Union. Montenegro and Serbia have now requested to be listed without that specific condition in column 5 of the table in Part 1 of Annex VIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, and they have provided sufficient evidence and guarantees to the Commission substantiating that request. Annex VIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(5)

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(6)

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