(fra kommisjonsforordningen)

(1) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down rules for the prevention and control of animal diseases that are transmissible to animals or to humans, including, inter alia, rules for movements within the Union of kept terrestrial animals. 

(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 supplements the rules for the prevention and control of animal diseases transmissible to animals or to humans laid down in Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, as regards movements within the Union of kept terrestrial animals, including dogs, cats, ferrets and other carnivores. 

(3) For the purpose of movement within the Union, Article 53 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 requires operators to ensure that before dogs, cats and ferrets are moved they comply with certain requirements, inter alia, to be individually identified with an injectable transponder in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035, and be accompanied by an identification document referred to in that Delegated Regulation. They also have to ensure that the animals are duly vaccinated against rabies and in the case of dogs being moved to Member States that have a disease-free status from Echinococcus multilocularis, have been properly treated against that infestation. 

(4) When a non-commercial movement of pet dogs, pet cats or pet ferrets cannot be carried out in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 245(2) or Article 246(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, pet keepers are required to only move pet dogs, pet cats and pet ferrets if they fulfil the identification and risk-mitigation measures laid down in Article 55 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688. 

(5) Article 58 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 lays down the animal health requirements for the movement of other carnivores to another Member State. It requires operators to only move canidae to Member States with a disease-free status from Echinococcus multilocularis if they were properly treated against that parasite. It also requires operators to only move other carnivores if they have been subjected to risk mitigation measures for diseases other than infection with rabies virus and infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis. 

(6) Article 65 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 requires operators of travelling circuses and animal acts to only move dogs, cats and ferrets provided that the individual identification document for each dog, cat and ferret is duly completed with the information attesting compliance with the rules laid down in Article 53 of that Delegated Regulation. 

(7) The detailed requirements for the risk mitigation measures referred to in Articles 53, 55, 58 and 65 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688, including those for the validity of the anti-rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, ferrets and other carnivores and for the prevention measures for Echinococcus multilocularis are currently specified in Annex VII to that Delegated Regulation through cross-references to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/772, and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/878. 

(8) Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, which lays down the rules for non-commercial movement of pet animals, was repealed by Article 270(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as from 21 April 2021. However, Article 277 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides that notwithstanding that repeal, Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 is to continue to apply until 21 April 2026 in respect of non-commercial movements of pet animals, in place of Part VI of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. 

(9) The rules on validity requirements for anti-rabies vaccination laid down in Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, and on risk-mitigation measures for Echinococcus multilocularis laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/772 have proven to be effective in minimising the risk of the spread of listed diseases through the movement of dogs, cats and ferrets. Accordingly, the main provisions of those rules should be maintained in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688, as amended by this Regulation but updated to take account of the practical experience gained by Member States in their application. Therefore, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688 should be amended by this Regulation to provide detailed rules for the validity of the anti-rabies vaccination for dogs, cats, ferrets and other carnivores and for the risk-mitigation measures for Echinococcus multilocularis when such animals are moved to another Member State. 

(10) As no risk mitigation measures for diseases other than infection with rabies virus and infestation with Echinococcus multilocularis have been adopted yet as provided by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 for the movement of other carnivores to another Member State, it is appropriate for certainty and clarity reasons to delete Article 58(1), point (e), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688.

(11) Rules on the identification of dogs, cats and ferrets and on the documentation accompanying those animals when being moved between Member States, which are laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035, have been amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) [C(2026) 21]. It is therefore necessary to amend Articles 53, 55 and 65 of Regulation (EU) 2020/688 accordingly. 

(12) Article 71 of Regulation (EU) 2020/688 requires operators moving certain kept terrestrial animals, including dogs, cats and ferrets, to be accompanied by an animal health certificate. This requirement should also apply to non-commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets kept as pet animals in households by pet keepers, that cannot be carried out in accordance with the conditions laid down in Article 245(2) or Article 246(1) or (2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. It is therefore appropriate for clarity reasons to amend Article 71 of Regulation (EU) 2020/688 accordingly. 

(13) As the transitional period related to the repeal of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 is to cease to apply on 21 April 2026, this Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency and apply from 22 April 2026,