Commission Decision of 6 January 2004 establishing the list of third countries and parts of territory thereof from which Member States authorise imports of live equidae and semen, ova and embryos of the equine species, and amending Decisions 93/195/EEC and 94/63/EC (notified under document number C(2003) 5242) (Text with EEA relevance) (2004/211/EC)

This Decision establishes a list of third countries, or parts thereof where regionalisation applies, from which Member States authorise the importation of equidae and semen, ova and embryos thereof, and indicates the other conditions applicable to such imports.

For the purpose of this Decision the following definitions shall apply:

‘category of equidae’ :
shall mean equidae as defined in Article 2 (c), (d) and (e) of Directive 90/426/EEC and registered horses;
‘importation’ :
shall mean the introduction onto Community territory of live equidae in accordance with the conditions specifically laid down for the particular type of importation, notably temporary admission, re-entry after temporary export and imports.

Member States shall authorise the importation into the Community of live equidae from the third countries or parts of the territories of those third countries listed in columns 2 and 4 of the Annex in accordance with the indications set out in Annex I, as follows:

• the temporary admission of registered horses as indicated in column 6,

• the re-entry after temporary export of registered horses for racing, competition and cultural events as indicated in column 7,

• the import of registered horses as indicated in column 8,

• the import of equidae for slaughter as indicated in column 9,

• the import of registered equidae and equidae for breeding and production as indicated in column 10.

Member States shall authorise imports of semen of the equine species from third countries or parts of the territory of third countries listed in columns 2 and 4 of Annex I respectively from which permanent imports of registered horses, registered equidae or equidae for breeding and production are also authorised. Such imports shall be subject to the condition that the semen was collected for export to the Community only from equidae belonging to the category of live equidae authorised for permanent imports and such imports shall meet the requirements which correspond to the indications set out in columns 11, 12 and 13 of Annex I.

Member States shall authorise imports of ova and embryos of the equine species from third countries or parts of the territory of third countries listed in columns 2 and 4 of Annex I respectively from which permanent imports of registered equidae and equidae for breeding and production are also authorised. Such imports shall meet the requirements which correspond to the indications set out in column 14 of Annex I.