Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/687 of 30 January 2025 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/624 as regards ante-mortem inspections in slaughterhouses, ante-mortem inspections at the holding of provenance and post-mortem inspections

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/624 is amended as follows:

1. in Article 3, paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

   ‘3.

   The derogations in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply:

   1. to animals that undergo emergency slaughter referred to in Section I, Chapter VI, of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004;

   2. to animals suspected of having a disease or condition that may adversely affect human health;

   3. to bovine animals from establishments defined in Article 4, point (27), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council^(********), which have not been granted the status “free from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex” (M. bovis, M. caprae and M. tuberculosis) as laid down in Part II, Chapter 1, Sections 1 and 2, of Annex IV to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689^(********);

   4. to bovine, ovine or caprine animals from establishments defined in Article 4, point (27), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which have not been granted the status “free from infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis without vaccination” as laid down in Part I, Chapter 1, Sections 1 and 2 of Annex IV to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689;

   5. to animals coming from a restricted zone referred to in Article 126(1), point (b)(iii), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and subject to restrictions within that zone;

   6. to animals subject to stricter controls due to the spread of emerging diseases or particular diseases listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

   ^{(***) (****)}

2. Article 6 is replaced by the following:

   1.

   The competent authorities shall apply the specific criteria and conditions laid down in this Article in the relevant cases of poultry, farmed game, domestic bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine animals and domestic solipeds.

   2.

   In the case of poultry reared for the production of “foie gras” and of delayed eviscerated poultry, slaughtered at the holding of provenance, the health certificate completed in accordance with the model health certificate set out in Chapter 2 of Annex IV to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235^(********) shall accompany the uneviscerated carcasses to the slaughterhouse or cutting plant or be sent in advance in any format, instead of the health certificate referred to in Article 5(2), point (f), of this Regulation.

   3.

   In the case of domestic bovine, ovine, caprine and porcine animals, domestic solipeds and farmed game slaughtered at the holding of provenance in accordance with Section I, Chapter VIa or Section III, point 3, of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, the health certificate completed in accordance with the model health certificate set out in Chapter 3 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 shall accompany the animals to the slaughterhouse or, in the case of farmed game, either to the slaughterhouse or to the game-handling establishment, or it shall be sent in advance in any format, instead of the health certificate referred to in Article 5(2), point (f), of this Regulation.

   4.

   In the case of farmed game slaughtered at the holding of provenance in accordance with Section III, point 3(a), of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004:

   1. a health certificate completed in accordance with the model health certificate set out in Chapter 4 of Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 shall accompany the animals to the slaughterhouse or to the game-handling establishment, or it shall be sent in advance in any format, instead of the health certificate referred to in Article 5(2), point (f), of this Regulation;

   2. the official veterinarian shall regularly verify that those carrying out the slaughter and bleeding properly perform their tasks.

   5.

   By way of derogation from Article 5(4), Member States may allow slaughter of farmed game until 28 days from the date of issue of the health certificate referred to in Article 5(2), point (f), if:

   1. only small quantities of the farmed game meat are directly supplied by the producer to the final consumer or to local retail establishments directly supplying to the final consumer; and

   2. not more than 50 animals are slaughtered per year and per holding of provenance.

   ^(**)

3. Article 8 is replaced by the following:

   Post-mortem inspection shall be performed by the official veterinarian in the following cases:

   1. animals that undergo emergency slaughter referred to in Section I, Chapter VI, of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004;

   2. animals suspected of having a disease or condition that may adversely affect human health;

   3. bovine animals from establishments defined in Article 4, point (27), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which have not been granted the status “free from infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex” (M. bovis, M. caprae and M. tuberculosis) as laid down in Part II, Chapter 1, Sections 1 and 2, of Annex IV to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689;

   4. bovine, ovine or caprine animals from establishments defined in Article 4, point (27), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which have not been granted the status “free from infection with Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis without vaccination” as laid down in Part I, Chapter 1, Sections 1 and 2 of Annex IV to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689;

   5. animals coming from a restricted zone referred to in Article 126(1), point (b)(iii), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and subject to restrictions within that zone;

   6. when stricter controls are necessary to take account of emerging diseases or particular diseases listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health;

   7. in case of derogation on the timing of post-mortem inspection in accordance with Article 13 of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627.’

   .

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.