Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/496/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries and amending Directives 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 90/675/EEC^f1, and in particular Article 3(2) and Article 9(1)(c) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(I) to Directive 90/425/EEC^f2, and in particular Article 17(3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2009/156/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing the movement and importation from third countries of equidae^f3, and in particular Article 2(i), Article 12(1), (4) and (5), Article 13(2), Articles 15, 16, 17 and 19 thereof,

Whereas:

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. The health certificate should attest that the equidae comply with the health conditions set out in accordance with that Directive.

Commission Decisions 92/260/EEC^f4, 93/195/EEC^f5, 93/196/EEC^f6, 93/197/EEC^f7, 94/699/EC^f8, 95/329/EC, 2003/13/EC^f9, 2004/177/EC^f10, 2004/211/EC, 2010/57/EU^f11 and 2010/471/EU^f12 lay down the list of third countries, the relevant animal health conditions and the veterinary certification for the introduction into the Union of equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659^f13 will repeal and replace those Decisions as from 1 October 2018.

After the adoption of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659, certain of the Commission Decisions relating to the list of third countries and the animal health conditions and veterinary certification for importation of live equidae have been amended.

In particular, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1851^f14 amended Decisions 92/260/EEC and 2004/211/EC, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/218^f15 amended Decisions 92/260/EEC, 93/195/EEC and 2004/211/EC, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/518^f16 amended Decisions 93/195/EEC and 2004/211/EC and Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1143^f17 amended Decisions 92/260/EEC and 93/197/EEC. Those amendments should now be incorporated in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has requested to be included in the list of third countries and parts of the territory of third countries from which the entry into the Union of equidae is authorised.. Bosnia and Herzegovina has a satisfactory record of disease reporting to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The diseases listed in Annex I to Directive 2009/156/EC are notifiable and the last cases of dourine and glanders in Bosnia and Herzegovina were reported in 1952 and 1959 respectively. Bosnia and Herzegovina is recognised by the OIE as free of African horse sickness. Pending a Commission audit, the temporary admission, the re-entry after temporary export and the import of registered horses from Bosnia and Herzegovina should be authorised.

Kuwait has presented documentation on the approval of a semen collection centre in accordance with the provisions of Article 17(2)(b)(ii) of Directive 92/65/EEC. Following evaluation of the documents, the entry into the Union of semen of animals of the equine species from Kuwait should be authorised.

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 Büyükada Island, Province of Istanbul, had been notified on 15 December 2017. 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.

Certain third countries from which entry into the Union of equidae is authorised requested clarification on the statements on glanders and dourine in certain of the relevant health certificates. Following evaluation of their request it appears justified to adjust the wording of those statements.

Annexes I, II and III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 should therefore be amended accordingly.

In order to allow stakeholders to make their arrangements before Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 will apply, it is necessary to provide that this amending Regulation enters into force on the day after the date of its publication.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: