Date: 2020-04-03Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/485 of 2 April 2020 amending Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 as regards the entry into the Union of live equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae from Thailand (Text with EEA relevance)
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Executive Summary:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/485 amends Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659, ceasing to authorise the entry into the Union of live equidae and their semen, ova, and embryos from Thailand. This decision follows Thailand's report of an African horse sickness outbreak. The regulation takes effect on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Amendment of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659:**
* Annex I is amended to remove authorisation for the entry of live equidae and their germinal products from Thailand into the Union.
* The entry for Thailand in Annex I is replaced with "TH Thailand TH0 Whole country G".
* **Basis for the Regulation:**
* Thailand reported an outbreak of African horse sickness to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
* Directives 2009/156/EC and 92/65/EEC lay down animal health requirements governing imports of equidae and their germinal products into the Union.
* **Entry into Force:**
* The regulation enters into force on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Impact Analysis:
* **European Union:**
* Impact: Ensures animal health within the Union by preventing the potential spread of African horse sickness.
* Action Required: Implement the amended regulation, specifically the updated Annex I of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659.
* **Thailand:**
* Impact: Prohibition on exporting live equidae and their germinal products to the European Union.
* Action Required: Address the outbreak of African horse sickness and comply with EU requirements for re-establishing trade of equidae and their germinal products.
* **Equidae Traders/Breeders (EU and Thailand):**
* Impact: Restrictions on trade and movement of equidae and their germinal products between Thailand and the EU.
* Action Required: Adapt business operations to comply with the new regulations, seek alternative markets, and monitor updates on the disease situation in Thailand.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2020/485: A regulation amending Annex I to Implementing Regulation EU 2018/659 regarding the entry into the Union of live equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae from Thailand.
Implementing Regulation EU 2018/659: Establishes the list of third countries and parts of the territory of third countries from which the entry into the Union of equidae and of their semen, ova and embryos is authorised.
Thailand: A country in Southeast Asia, subject of the regulation due to an outbreak of African horse sickness.
Council Directive 92/65/EEC: Council Directive laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules
Council Directive 2009/156/EC: Council Directive on animal health conditions governing the movement and importation from third countries of equidae
African horse sickness: A highly infectious and deadly disease affecting equidae (horses, donkeys, mules, and zebras).
Ursula VON DER LEYEN: The President of the European Commission.
L 103/10 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union 3.4.2020
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/485
of 2 April 2020
amending Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 as regards the entry into the Union of
live equidae and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae from Thailand
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in
and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down
in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC(1), and in particular Article 17(3) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 2009/156/EC of 30 November 2009 on animal health conditions governing the
movement and importation from third countries of equidae(2), and in particular Article 2(i), Article 12(1), (4) and (5),
Article 13(2), Articles 15 and 16 and Article 19(a) and (b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659(3) establishes the list of third countries and parts of the
territory of third countries from which the entry into the Union of equidae and of their semen, ova and embryos is
authorised. It also lays down the animal health and veterinary certification requirements applicable to those
consignments.
(2) Directive 2009/156/EC lays down the animal health requirements governing imports of equidae into the Union. It
provides that equidae imported into the Union must come from a third country that is free from African horse
sickness.
(3) Directive 92/65/EEC lays down the animal health requirements governing imports of semen, ova and embryos of
equidae into the Union. It provides that only those commodities that come from a third country or part of the
territory of a third country on a list of third countries drawn up in accordance with that Directive, may be imported
into the Union.
(4) The specific rules for controls of consignments in transit of animals are laid down in Chapters III and IV of
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124(4).
(5) On 27 March 2020, Thailand reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) an outbreak of African
horse sickness. The entry into the Union of equidae and of germinal products of equidae from Thailand should no
longer be authorised. Accordingly, the entry for Thailand in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659
should be amended, so that the entry into the Union of equidae and germinal products of equidae from Thailand is
no longer authorised.
(6) Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(7) Given the risks to animal health, the amendment to the entry for Thailand in Annex I to Implementing Regulation
(EU) 2018/659 should take effect as soon as possible.
(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
(1) OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54.
(2) OJ L 192, 23.7.2010, p. 1.
(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659 of 12 April 2018 on the conditions for the entry into the Union of live equidae
and of semen, ova and embryos of equidae (OJ L 110, 30.4.2018, p. 1).
(4) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124 of 10 October 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European
Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for official controls of consignments of animals and goods in transit, transhipment and
onward transportation through the Union, and amending Commission Regulations (EC) No 798/2008, (EC) No 1251/2008, (EC)
No 119/2009, (EU) No 206/2010, (EU) No 605/2010, (EU) No 142/2011, (EU) No 28/2012, Commission Implementing Regulation
(EU) 2016/759 and Commission Decision 2007/777/EC (OJ L 321, 12.12.2019, p. 73).3.4.2020 E N O f f i c i a l J o u r n a l o f t h e E u r o p e a n Union L 103/11
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
In Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/659, the entry for Thailand is replaced by the following:
‘TH Thailand TH-0 Whole country G — — — — — — — — — —‘
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 2 April 2020.
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN