(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down rules on animal diseases that are transmissible to animals or to humans, including requirements for official animal health certification for various movements of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin and requirements for entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin. Those requirements related to the entry into the Union are further specified in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (3).

(2)

Article 239(2), point (a)(iv), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides for the possibility for the Commission to adopt special rules regarding derogations from the general requirements for entry into the Union of animals which originate in the Union and are moved to a third country or territory and then are moved back to the Union from that third country or territory. Based on that Article, Article 177 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 has been amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/54 (4) to lay down special rules for the entry of ungulates that originate in the Union, are moved to a third country or territory to participate in events, exhibitions, displays and shows (events) organised outside the Union and are then moved back immediately to the Union.

(3)

Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403 (5) lays down, among others, model animal health/official certificates and declarations for the entry into the Union and transit through the Union of terrestrial animals. However, that Implementing Regulation does not include any model certificate to accompany consignments of ungulates that originate in the Union, are moved to a third country or territory to participate in events organised outside the Union and are then moved back immediately to the Union. In that certificate the competent authority of the third country or territory where the event takes place should provide the necessary guarantees as regards compliance with the animal health requirements for these specific entries of animals, provided for in Article 177 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 as amended. To avoid any undue trade disruption, it is necessary therefore to amend Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403 to provide for this model certificate to accompany those consignments.

(4)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (6) establishes the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof, from which the entry into the Union of species and categories of animals that fall within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 is permitted. In particular, Part 1 of Annex II to that Implementing Regulation provides for the list of third countries, territories or zones thereof, from which the entry into the Union of ungulates is permitted. Part 4 of that Annex provides for certain animal health guarantees that may be assigned to certain third countries, territories or zones thereof in accordance with Article 237 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. Due to the animal health risks that could be posed by movements of ungulates originating in the Union, moved to a third country or territory and then moved back immediately to the Union, the possibility provided for in Article 177 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 for entry of such ungulates back in the Union following participation in events organised outside the Union should be limited to certain third countries and territories providing the necessary guarantees. This possibility should therefore be described as an animal health guarantee in Part 4 of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 and limited to certain third countries or territories authorised for the entry into the Union of ungulates in Part 1 of that Annex.

(5)

Implementing Regulations (EU) 2021/403 and (EU) 2021/404 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6)

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

(1)

in Article 14, a new point (l) is added after point (k):

(2)

Annex II is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation.