Animal health requirements: non-commercial movement of pet animals

The European Parliament adopted by 618 votes to 17, with 5 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 998/2003 on the animal health requirements applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals.

The European Parliament set out its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure). The amendments are the result of a compromise negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council. They amend the Commission’s proposal as follows:

Under the terms of the compromise reached, the Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) in respect of preventive health measures regarding diseases other than rabies, and modifications of technical requirements for the identification of animals and for the anti-rabies vaccination as laid down in the Annexes. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at experts' level.

The amended text contains new provisions concerning the exercise of the delegation, the revocation of the delegation and objections to delegated acts.

The Parliament also a declaration of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission concerning Article 290 of the TFEU, that is annexed to the legislative resolution: the three institutions declare that the provisions of this Regulation shall be without prejudice to any future position of the institutions as regards the implementation of Article 290 TFEU or individual legislative acts containing such provisions.