Article 15

Importation of equidae from the territory of a third country or part thereof as defined in accordance with Article 13(2)(a) on the list drawn up in accordance with Article 12(1) shall be authorised only if the equidae, over and above the requirements of Article 13:

1. (a)

   comply with the animal health requirements adopted, with reference to the species in question, the categories of equidae, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 21(2) for importation of equidae from that country.

   The reference basis for fixing those animal health requirements shall be the standards laid down in Articles 4 and 5; and

2. (b)

   in the case of a third country not free of vesicular stomatitis or viral arteritis for at least six months, the equidae must meet the following requirements:

   1. (i)

      they must come from a holding which has been free of vesicular stomatitis for at least six months and they must have reacted negatively to a serological test prior to dispatch;

   2. (ii)

      in the case of viral arteritis, male equidae must, notwithstanding Article 19(b), have reacted negatively to a serological test or to a virus isolation test or to any other test recognised in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 21(2) which would guarantee freedom from the virus.

      In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 21(2), and following the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority, the categories of male equidae to which this requirement shall apply may be defined.