(1)

Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 lays down the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals into a Member State from another Member State and from third countries and the checks applicable to such movement.

(2)

Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 provides the conditions under which pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I to that Regulation, namely pet dogs, cats and ferrets, may be moved for non-commercial purposes into a Member State from a territory or a third country. In accordance with Article 10(1), point (c), such pet animals are to have undergone a rabies antibody titration test that complies with the validity requirements set out in Annex IV to that Regulation.

(3)

By way of derogation from Article 10(1), point (c), Article 12(1) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 provides that the antibody titration test is not required for pet dogs, cats and ferrets that are being moved into a Member State from a territory or a third country listed, amongst others, pursuant to Article 13(2) of that Regulation.

(4)

To be listed under Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, a territory or a third country should submit an application in which it demonstrates that for pet dogs, cats and ferrets, it fulfils at least the specific criteria under points (a) to (e) of Article 13(2), in order to ensure a sufficient level of safety with regard to public and animal health risks related to such non-commercial movement of pet animals.

(5)

Part 2 of Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 (2) lays down the list of territories and third countries benefitting from the derogation provided for in Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013.

(6)

Checks carried out in the recent years at points of entry into the Union by national authorities in accordance with Article 34 of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 have shown repetitive non-compliances concerning preventive health measures against rabies in regard to pet dogs, cats and ferrets being moved from Belarus and Russia. Those non-compliances include the absence of, and inappropriate administration of an anti-rabies vaccination as well as falsely documented anti-rabies vaccination, the validity of which has however been inaccurately certified in the accompanying animal health certificates.

(7)

As part of the criteria to be fulfilled by any third country in its application for entry on the list provided for in Article 13(2) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, point (d) of that Article requires that rules on the prevention and control of rabies are in force and implemented effectively to minimise the risk of infection of pet animals, including those on the vaccination of domestic animals against rabies.

(8)

Furthermore, official control services have to ensure that pet dogs, cats and ferrets are moved with animal health certificates duly completed and issued in accordance with Article 26 of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013. This implies verifying and certifying that such pet animals have received an anti-rabies vaccination that fully complies with the provisions of Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013.

(9)

Belarus and Russia provided guarantees to this effect with their application for entry on the list. The repetitive non-compliances identified by national authorities at the points of entry into the Union regarding pet dogs, cats and ferrets being moved from Belarus and Russia reflect however serious deficiencies in law enforcement at their national level. Such deficiencies raise significant doubts as to the continuous application and effective implementation of the rules on prevention and control of rabies guaranteed by the competent authorities of these third countries, and also as to the accuracy of official certification issued at their level.

(10)

Considering the significant prevalence of non-compliance surrounding the anti-rabies vaccination status of the pet animals and the accuracy of its certification, the exemption for pet dogs, cats and ferrets originating from Belarus and Russia to undergo rabies antibody titration testing before entering the Union territory raises considerable concerns about the risk of introducing rabies into the Union, through the non-commercial movement of such pet animals.

(11)

In addition, the unfavourable epidemiological situation in Belarus and Russia where rabies remains present and is regularly detected in dogs and cats as attested by the information collected at international level by the World Organisation for Animal Health, contributes to further increasing the risk of introducing rabies into the Union.

(12)

To address the situation and mitigate the risk of introducing rabies through non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets being moved from Belarus and Russia, it is appropriate to reintroduce the requirement for such pet animals to undergo a rabies antibody titration test before entering the Union territory.

(13)

It is therefore necessary to update the list of territories and third countries set out in Part 2 of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 and remove the entries for Belarus and Russia from that list.

(14)

In order to prevent any unnecessary disruptions of non-commercial movement of pet animals of the species listed in Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 from Belarus and Russia and to comply with the timeline provided in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 for a rabies antibody titration test to be recognised as valid, this Regulation should apply from 16 September 2024.

(15)

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