A veterinary certificate complying with the requirements set out in Annex III shall be presented with each consignment of animals upon their import or transit into the Community.

The veterinary certificate shall certify that the requirements of this Directive and other Community legislation on animal health, or where applicable in accordance with Article 6(3), provisions that are equivalent to those requirements, have been complied with.

The veterinary certificate may include certification statements required under other Community legislation on public health, animal health and animal welfare.

The use of the veterinary certificate provided for in paragraph 1 may be suspended or withdrawn in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 14(2) where the animal health situation in the authorised third country justifies such suspension or withdrawal.