(fra kommisjonsforordningen)

(1) Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 lays down specific rules relating to, inter alia, non-commercial movements of the pet animals defined in Article 2, point (24), thereof, namely pet dogs, cats and ferrets, entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom, provided that certain conditions are fulfilled, including written guarantees having been provided by the United Kingdom in accordance with Article 12(1), point (a), thereof (the written guarantees).

(2) In particular, Article 12(1), point (e), of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 provides that pet animals entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom are to be accompanied by a pet travel document validated by the competent authorities of the United Kingdom, and a signed declaration by the owner or an authorised person stating that the pet animals will not be subsequently moved from Northern Ireland to a Member State (the declaration).

(3) The written guarantees are to ensure that pet animals, entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom do not increase the risk to animal health on the island of Ireland or affect its sanitary status, or increase the risk to public and animal health in the internal market or undermine its integrity. They also are to ensure that the competent authorities of the United Kingdom take effective action to reduce, to a minimum, the possibility of the pet animals being moved from Northern Ireland to a Member State, evidenced through information on the official procedures for deciding which measures to take in the event of non-compliance.

(4) In addition, the written guarantees are to ensure that the competent authorities of the United Kingdom apply requirements related to non-commercial movements of pet animals into the United Kingdom to protect its animal health status, and carry out effective documentary and identity checks on pet animals entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom; implement an early detection and notification system for Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals, and immediately notify the Commission of any such detection; and implement an early detection and notification system for rabies infection in kept and wild susceptible animals and immediately notify the Commission of any suspicion or detection of rabies infection.

(5) In its letter of 15 April 2025 (the letter), the United Kingdom states that pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom do not increase the risk to animal health on the island of Ireland or affect its sanitary status, nor do they increase the risk to public and animal health in the internal market or undermine its integrity. In the letter, the United Kingdom also provides information on the official procedures in place in the event of non-compliance so that effective action is taken by the competent authorities of the United Kingdom to reduce, to a minimum, the possibility of pet animals being moved from Northern Ireland to a Member State.

(6) The United Kingdom further states in the letter that it applies requirements related to non-commercial movements of the pet animals into the United Kingdom to protect its animal health status and that the competent authorities of the United Kingdom will carry out effective documentary and identity checks on pet animals entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom from 4 June 2025. In the letter, the United Kingdom also states that: (a) it will implement an early detection and notification system for Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals from 4 June 2025; (b) its competent authorities will immediately notify the Commission of any such detection; (c) it will implement an early detection and notification system for rabies infection in kept and wild susceptible animals from 4 June 2025; and that (d) its competent authorities will immediately notify the Commission of any suspicion or detection of rabies infection.

(7) As the United Kingdom has provided the written guarantees in the letter, it is appropriate to lay down rules on the information to be included in the pet travel document, and on the content of the declaration.

(8) The pet travel document should, in particular, include information allowing the identification of the pet animal and its owner and be signed by a representative of the competent authorities of the United Kingdom issuing the pet travel document, in order to certify compliance with the conditions laid down in Article 12(1), points (c) and (d), of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231. The declaration by the owner of the pet animal or the authorised person should, in particular, include information allowing the identification of the pet animal and its owner or the person authorised to travel with this pet animal, as well as a commitment that the pet animal entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom will not be subsequently moved from Northern Ireland to a Member State, in accordance with Article 12(1), point (e), of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231.

(9) In the interest of legal certainty and to avoid unnecessary disruptions to the entry of pet animals into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom, this Regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency.

(10) The written guarantees provided for by the United Kingdom state that all the conditions referred to in Article 12(1), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2023/1231 will be met from 4 June 2025. This Regulation should, therefore, apply [retroactively] from that date. The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,