Animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movements of pet animals: extension of the transitional period

PURPOSE: to extend the transitional period for derogations in Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 until 31 August 2009.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EC) No 454/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movements of pet animals, as regards the extension of the transitional period.

CONTENT: the Council adopted this amendment to Regulation (EC) No 998/2003, extending until 30 June 2010 the transitional period for special entry requirements applicable in some Member States with regard to rabies, echinococcosis and ticks. It is recalled that Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 provides that for a transitional period of five years (i.e. until 3 July 2008), the entry of pet dogs and cats into Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom is subject to special requirements, taking into account the particular situations in those Member States with regard to rabies.

In addition, Article 16 of Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 provides that until 3 July 2008 , those Member States which have special rules for the control of echinococcosis and ticks may make the entry of pet animals into their territories subject to compliance with those requirements. Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom apply their specific entry rules relating to echinococcosis. Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom require pet dogs and cats to undergo additional treatment against ticks that must also be certified in the animals’ passports.

Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 provides that the transitional regimes are to be reviewed before the end of the transitional period. Accordingly, the Commission was required to submit, before 1 February 2007, a report on the need to maintain the serological test, together with appropriate proposals for determining the regime to be applied after the transitional regimes.  That report should be based on the experience gained so far and on a risk evaluation, to be based on a scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). However, because the scientific assessment has taken longer than envisaged, the Commission’s report has been delayed. To enable sufficient account to be taken of the conclusions of the report, the expiry of the transitional regimes need to be postponed. The transitional regimes are extended until 30 June 2010.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 24/06/2008.