CHAPTER IU.K.Organization and follow-up of checks

Article 9U.K.

[F11. Member States shall authorise the transit of animals from one third country to another third country or to the same third country provided that:]

(a)such transit has been previously authorized by the official veterinarian of the border inspection post of the Member State in the territory of which the animals must be presented in order to undergo there the checks provided for in Article 4 and, where appropriate, by the competent central authority of the Member State or Member States of transit;

(b)the party concerned supplies proof that the first third country to which the animals are being sent, after transit through one of the territories referred to in Annex I to Directive 90/675/EEC, undertakes under no circumstances to reject or to send back the animals, the importation or transit of which it has authorized and undertakes to comply, in the territories referred to in Annex I to Directive 90/675/EEC, with Community rules on protection during transport;

(c)the check referred to in Article 4 shows to the satisfaction of the veterinarian, if applicable after the animals have passed through a quarantine centre, that the animals fulfil the requirements of this Directive or, in the case of animals referred to in Annex A to Directive 90/425/EEC, afford health guarantees recognized in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 23 as being at least equivalent to those requirements;

(d)the competent authority of the border inspection post notifies the fact that the animals have passed through to the competent authorities of the Member State or Member Statess of transit and of the border post of exit, by means of the information exchange system [F2referred to in Article 20 of Directive 90/425/EEC];

(e)in the case of passage through one of the territories referred to in Annex I to Directive 90/675/EEC, such transit is carried out under the Community transit procedure (external transit) or under any other customs transit procedure provided for in Community rules; the only handling authorized during transit shall be that carried out at the point of entry into or exit from one of the territories referred to in Annex I and operations to ensure the animals' welfare.

2.All expenditure incurred pursuant to this Article shall be chargeable to the consignor, the consignee or their representative without compensation by the Member State.