(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down, inter alia, the animal health requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, and it applies from 21 April 2021. One of those animal health requirements is that those consignments must come from a third country, territory or zone or compartment thereof, listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation.

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (2) supplements Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards the animal health requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories, or zones or compartments thereof. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin falling within its scope may only be permitted to enter into the Union if they come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed for the particular species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, in accordance with the animal health requirements laid down in that Delegated Regulation.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (3) establishes the lists of third countries or territories, or zones or compartments thereof, from which the entry into the Union of those species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, that fall within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692, is permitted. The lists and certain general rules concerning the lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII to that Delegated Regulation.

(4)

Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 sets out the list of third countries, territories or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of equine animals.

(5)

Türkiye is listed in Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, assigned to Sanitary Group E and regionalised as the zone TR-1 to certain north-western provinces. In December 2020, Türkiye requested the Commission to extend the zone TR-1 from which the entry into the Union of registered horses is authorised by the provinces of Bursa, Eskişehir and Kocaeli and provided guarantees supporting that request.

(6)

After evaluation of the documentation provided by Türkiye, the Commission concluded that the guarantees offered by the Turkish central competent authority are sufficient to authorise the entry into and transit through the Union, as well as the re-entry after temporary export of registered horses from the new zone TR-1 in Türkiye.

(7)

Egypt is listed in Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, assigned to Sanitary Group E and regionalised as the zone EG-1 to certain northern governorates. In December 2021, Egypt requested the Commission to authorise the entry into the Union of registered horses from a new zone and provided the Commission with guarantees as regards the establishment of an equine disease free zone at the Police Veterinary Quarantine for Equines at CAIRO/SWISS desert road on the Eastern outskirts of Cairo connected through the Cairo International Airport.

(8)

After evaluation of the documentation provided by Egypt, the Commission concluded that the guarantees offered by the Egyptian central competent authority are sufficient to authorise the entry into and transit through the Union of registered horses from that zone in Egypt.

(9)

Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

As Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 applies from 21 April 2021, in the interest of legal certainty and to facilitate trade, the amendments to be made to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,