(1)

On 29 March 2017, the United Kingdom submitted the notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). On 11 April 2019, the European Council adopted Decision (EU) 2019/584 (4) extending the period under Article 50(3) TEU in agreement with the United Kingdom. In accordance with that Decision, the period provided for in Article 50(3) TEU has been further extended until 31 October 2019. Union law will therefore cease to apply to and in the United Kingdom from 1 November 2019 (‘the withdrawal date’).

(2)

Directive 2009/156/EC lays down the animal health requirements governing imports into the Union of equidae. It provides that only equidae that come from a third country or part of a third country on a list of third countries drawn up in accordance with that Directive, and accompanied by a health certificate corresponding to a model also drawn up in accordance with that Directive, may be imported into the Union.

(3)

Directive 92/65/EEC lays down the animal health requirements governing imports into the Union of semen, ova and embryos of the equine species. It provides that only commodities that come from a third country or part of a third country on a list of third countries drawn up in accordance with that Directive and accompanied by a health certificate corresponding to a model also drawn up in accordance with that Directive, may be imported into the Union. The health certificate must attest that the commodities come from approved collection and storage centres or collection and production teams offering guarantees at least equivalent to those established in Annex D(I) to that Directive.

(4)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 (5) establishes, inter alia, the list of third countries and parts of the territory of third countries from which Member States authorise the entry of live equidae and semen, ova and embryos of equidae.

(5)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has provided the necessary guarantees for that country and for its Crown Dependencies for certain commodities to comply with the conditions laid down in Directives 2009/156/EC and 92/65/EEC, and in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 for the entry into the Union of consignments of equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae from the withdrawal date by continuing to comply with Union legislation for an initial period of at least nine months.

(6)

Therefore, taking into account these specific guarantees provided by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and in order to avoid any unnecessary disruption of trade after the withdrawal date, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its Crown Dependencies should be included in the list of third countries and parts of the territory of third countries set out in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 from which the entry of live equidae and semen, ova and embryos of equidae is authorised.

(7)

As regards the health status of equidae in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Crown Dependencies, these countries should be assigned to sanitary group A, and all types of entry and the entry of all categories of equidae should be allowed.

(8)

Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9)

This Regulation should apply from 1 November 2019, unless Union law continues to apply to and in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on that date.

(10)

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