Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/561
of 11 April 2016
amending Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 as regards the model of animal health certificate for dogs, cats and ferrets moved into a Member State from a territory or a third country for non-commercial purposes
(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals and repealing Regulation (EC) No 998/2003, and in particular Article 25(2) thereof,
OJ L 178, 28.6.2013, p. 1.
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 provides that dogs, cats and ferrets moved into a Member State from a territory or a third country for non-commercial purposes are to be accompanied by an identification document in the format of an animal health certificate. Part 1 of Annex IV to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 sets out the model for the animal health certificate.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 of 28 June 2013 on the model identification documents for the non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets, the establishment of lists of territories and third countries and the format, layout and language requirements of the declarations attesting compliance with certain conditions provided for in Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 178, 28.6.2013, p. 109).
(2) In the model of animal health certificate reference is made to the required successful test for immune response to anti-rabies vaccination that should be performed in accordance with Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 on blood samples taken from dogs, cats and ferrets coming from or scheduling to transit through a territory or a third country other than those listed in Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013.
(3) Following the repeated forgery of laboratory reports on the results of the rabies antibody titration test, it is appropriate to remind the certifying officials in territories or third countries that the satisfactory results to that test should not be certified unless the authenticity of the laboratory report has been verified. A specific guidance note to that effect should be included in the animal health certificate.
(4) Furthermore, the entry regarding the date of marking of dogs, cats or ferrets in Part I of the animal health certificate has been misinterpreted by certifying officials in third countries and has therefore caused problems during compliance checks at Union external borders. In order to avoid any misunderstanding, that entry should be removed from Part I of the animal health certificate that describes the animals, and inserted in Part II of that certificate, that concerns the certification of the animals. A specific note for guidance concerning the verification of the marking should also be included in Part II.
(5) Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6) To avoid any disruption of movements, the use of animal health certificates issued in accordance with Part 1 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 before the date of application of this Regulation should be authorised during a transitional period.
(7) 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:

Article 1 Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2 For a transitional period until 31 December 2016, Member States may authorise the entry of dogs, cats and ferrets moved into a Member State from a territory or a third country for non-commercial purposes and accompanied by an animal health certificate issued not later than 31 August 2016 in accordance with the model set out in Part 1 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 in its version prior to the amendments introduced by this Regulation.
Article 3 This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
It shall apply from 1 September 2016.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 11 April 2016.
For the Commission
The President
Jean-Claude Juncker
ANNEX Part 1 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 is replaced by the following:

‘PART 1’