Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/21242 establishes rules for the performance of official controls by the competent authorities of the Member States3 on consignments of animals and goods in transit, transhipment and onward transportation through the Union.

Since several operators are involved during transit and transhipment, including importers, transporters, customs agents and traders, it is necessary to indicate that operators responsible for consignments should comply with the rules in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124.

In order to ensure traceability of consignments until they leave the Union territory, the official certificate issued in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/21284 is to accompany the consignments from the approved warehouses to the border control posts where the goods leave the Union territory.

In accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2128, official certificates may be issued in paper format. As a consequence, competent authorities responsible for official controls at NATO or US military bases, competent authorities at the border control posts where goods leave the Union and the representative of the master of a vessel or the operator responsible for delivery of consignments to a vessel leaving the Union territory should also be allowed the possibility of countersigning official certificates that are issued in paper format and returning such official certificates within 15 days from the date when transit was authorised.

With a view to protecting human and animal health, consignments of products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products in transit from one third country to another third country may be authorised to pass through the Union territory provided they meet certain conditions. Such conditions should include the proper monitoring of consignments during transit and their due presentation for official controls at the border control post where they leave the Union territory.

To ensure human and animal health protection, products of animal origin should be added to the commodities to be checked at the border control post where goods leave the Union.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124 lays down the specific requirements for transit of animals, products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products from one part of the Union territory to another part of the Union territory, passing through the territory of a third country.

After the transition period, which was agreed as part of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Withdrawal Agreement), products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products that are moved from one part of the Union territory to another part of the Union territory, passing through the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland, are to be presented for official controls at the border control post of re-introduction into the Union. The notion ‘Union territory’ includes Northern Ireland for the purposes of the application of this Regulation.

On the basis of prior notification of arrival of the consignment and documentary checks, the competent authorities of the border control post of re-introduction into the Union should be able to assess whether the consignment in transit may be readmitted into the Union or is to be presented for further controls. This prior notification should be effected by the operator responsible for the consignment. Prior notification and documentary checks should be performed through the information management system for official controls (IMSOC).

However, several Member States have highlighted practical problems and the considerable administrative burden of using the IMSOC for prior notification and documentary checks in the specific case of transit through the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland.

In order to avoid any delay resulting from the administrative burden of complying with documentary formalities for the re-introduction of products of animal origin, germinal products, animal by-products, derived products, hay and straw and composite products into the Union, the possibility should be provided for Member States of using an alternative information system that achieves the same objectives as the IMSOC for prior notification and recording of the results of documentary checks at the border control post of re-introduction into the Union after transit through the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124 should therefore be amended accordingly.

In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective after the transition period in the Withdrawal Agreement ends, this Regulation should apply from 1 January 2021,