(1)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 (3) lays down the conditions for entry into the Union of equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae. It sets out the list of third countries from where Member States are to authorise the entry of equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of animals of the equine species, and specifies the animal health and veterinary certification conditions for such entries.

(2)

Directive 2009/156/EC lays down the animal health requirements governing imports of equidae from third countries into the Union. It provides that imports of equidae into the Union are only authorised from third countries or parts of the territory thereof which have been free from glanders (Burkholderia mallei) for a period of at least six months.

(3)

On 25 July 2019, Kuwait informed the Commission of two cases of glanders (Burkholderia mallei) in registered horses kept in pre-export quarantine for dispatch to the Union. Kuwait has immediately suspended the export of registered horses to the Union and taken the necessary surveillance and control measures. The entry of registered horses from Kuwait into the Union was therefore suspended by adoption of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2147 (4). On 8 September 2019, three more horses in the same farm were confirmed positive for glanders by complement fixation test (CFT) carried out in the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Regional Reference Laboratory. On 23 June 2020, Kuwait informed the Commission that on 30 April 2020 it had completed an active clinical and serological survey, including testing for glanders of 7 914 horses carried out with negative results in an OIE Regional Reference Laboratory.

(4)

Kuwait has thus demonstrated that it has remained free of glanders since the last case was detected on 8 September 2019. As a consequence, temporary admission of registered horses, re-entry of registered horses after temporary export and imports of registered horses as well as transit of equidae from Kuwait should be authorised. It is therefore appropriate to amend the entry for Kuwait in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659.

(5)

On 25 December 2019, Turkey notified through the Animal Disease Notification System, that a case of glanders was confirmed on 4 December 2019 in a horse on the Büyükada Island, Province of Istanbul, Turkey. The entry into the Union of equidae and of germinal products of equidae from Turkey was suspended for a period of at least 6 months by adoption of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/581 (5).

(6)

Turkey has provided information documenting that the Provinces of Ankara, Edirne, Istanbul, Izmir, Kirklareli and Tekirdag have remained free of glanders for more than six months since the outbreak on the Büyükada Island was notified on 25 December 2019. That country has furthermore implemented measures to reduce the risk of introduction of glanders into those provinces. As a consequence, temporary admission of registered horses, re-entry of registered horses after temporary export and imports of registered horses as well as transit of equidae from the Provinces of Ankara, Edirne, Istanbul, Izmir, Kirklareli and Tekirdag should be authorised. It is therefore appropriate to amend the entry for Turkey in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659.

(7)

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

(8)

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