(1)

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 lays down the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals and the rules applying to checks on such movement. Part C of Annex II to that Regulation contains a list of third countries where the risk of rabies entering the Community, as a result of movements from their territories of pet animals, has been found to be no higher than the risk associated with such movements between Member States.

(2)

Under Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 a list of third countries was to be drawn up before 3 July 2004. To be included on that list, a third country should demonstrate its rabies status and that it complies with certain conditions relating to notification, monitoring, veterinary services, prevention and control of rabies and regulation of vaccines.

(3)

In order to avoid any unnecessary disturbance in the movements of pet animals, and to allow time for the third countries to provide where necessary additional guarantees, it is appropriate to establish a provisional list of third countries. That list should be based on the data available through the International Office of Epizootie Diseases (OIE-World Organisation for Animal Health), the results of inspections carried out by the Commission's Food and Veterinary Office in the third countries concerned and information gathered by Member States.

(4)

The list should also be based on the data provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Rabies Surveillance and Research in Wusterhausen, and the Rabies Bulletin.

(5)

The provisional list of third countries should include countries which are free of rabies and countries in respect of which the risk of rabies entering the Community as a result of movements from their territories has been found to be no higher than the risk associated with movements between Member States.

(6)

Following requests of the competent authorities of Chile, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates to be included in the list in part C of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 998/2003, it appears appropriate to modify the provisional list established in accordance with Article 10.

(7)

In addition, by Council Decision 2004/650/EC of 13 September 2004 amending Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 (2), Malta was added to the list of countries in part A of Annex II to the Regulation. Consequently specific provisions applying to entries of pet animals into Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom should be extended to Malta.

(8)

Finally, measures adopted by Spain in Ceuta and Melilla as regard entries from Morocco and controls on those territories of stray dogs and movements of pet animals from those territories to Morocco now permit the rabies status of those territories to be considered as equivalent to the status of Member states in continental Europe. Accordingly, it is appropriate to include Ceuta and Melilla in the list in section I of part B of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 998/2003.

(9)

In the interests of clarity of Community legislation, it is appropriate to replace Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 in its entirety.

(10)

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,