1.At the time of movement, pet animals of the species listed in parts A and B of Annex I shall:
(a)when they come from a third country listed in section 2 of part B and in part C of Annex II, and enter:
one of the Member States listed in section 1 of part B of Annex II, satisfy the requirements of Article 5(1);
one of the Member States listed in part A of Annex II, either directly or after transit through one of the territories listed in part B of Annex II, satisfy the requirements of Article 6;
(b)when they come from another third country and enter:
one of the Member States listed in section 1 of part B of Annex II:
be identified by means of the identification system defined in Article 4, and
have undergone:
anti-rabies vaccination in accordance with the requirements of Article 5, and
a neutralising antibody titration at least equal to 0,5 IU/ml carried out on a sample taken by an authorised veterinarian at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before being moved.
The antibody titration need not be renewed on a pet animal which has been revaccinated at the intervals laid down in Article 5(1).
This three-month period shall not apply to the re-entry of a pet animal whose passport certifies that the titration was carried out, with a positive result, before the animal left the territory of the Community;
one of the Member States listed in part A of Annex II, either immediately or after transit through one of the territories listed in part B of Annex II, be placed in quarantine unless they have been brought into conformity with the requirements of Article 6 after their entry into the Community.
2.Pet animals must be accompanied by a certificate issued by an official veterinarian or, on re-entry, by a passport certifying compliance with the provisions of paragraph 1.
3.Notwithstanding the above provisions:
(a)pet animals from the territories listed in section 2 of part B of Annex II for which it has been established, under the procedure laid down in Article 24(2), that such territories apply rules at least equivalent to Community rules as provided for in this Chapter, shall be subject to the rules laid down in Chapter II;
(b)the movement of pet animals between, respectively, San Marino, the Vatican and Italy, Monaco and France, Andorra and France or Spain, and Norway and Sweden may continue under the conditions laid down by national rules in force on the date laid down in the second paragraph of Article 25;
(c)in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24(2) and on conditions to be determined, the entry of unvaccinated pet animals under three months old of the species listed in part A of Annex I from the third countries listed in parts B and C of Annex II may be authorised where the rabies situation in the country concerned so warrants.
4.The arrangements for implementing this Article, and in particular the model certificate, shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24(2).
The conditions applicable to the movement of animals of the species listed in part C of Annex I from third countries, and the model certificate which must accompany them, shall be established in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24(2).
The list of third countries provided for in part C of Annex II shall be drawn up before the date provided for in the second paragraph of Article 25 and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24(2). To be included on that list, a third country must first demonstrate its status with regard to rabies and that:
notification to the authorities of the suspicion of rabies is obligatory;
an efficient monitoring system has been in place for at least two years;
the structure and organisation of its veterinary services are sufficient to guarantee the validity of the certificates;
all the regulatory measures for the prevention and control of rabies have been implemented, including the rules on imports;
regulations are in force on the marketing of anti-rabies vaccines (list of authorised vaccines and laboratories).
Member States shall provide the public with clear and easily accessible information concerning the health requirements that apply for the non-commercial movement of pets in Community territory and the conditions under which they may enter or re-enter such territory. They shall also ensure that personnel at entry points are fully informed of these rules and are able to implement them.
Member States shall take the measures necessary to ensure that pet animals brought into Community territory from a third country other than those listed in section 2 of part B of Annex II are subject:
if there are five pet animals or less, to documentary and identity checks by the competent authorities at the travellers' point of entry into Community territory;
if there are more than five pet animals, to the requirements and checks laid down in Directive 92/65/EEC.
Member States shall designate the authorities responsible for such checks and immediately inform the Commission thereof.
Each Member State shall draw up a list of points of entry as referred to in Article 12 and forward it to the other Member States and to the Commission.
At the time of any movement, the owner or natural person responsible for the pet animal must be able to present the authorities responsible for checks with a passport or the certificate provided for in Article 8(2) certifying that the animal meets the requirements laid down for such movement.
In particular, in the case referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of Article 4(1), where the transponder does not comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785, the owner or natural person responsible for the pet animal must provide the means necessary for reading the transponder at the time of any inspection.
Where such checks reveal that the animal does not meet the requirements laid down in this Regulation, the competent authorities shall decide in consultation with the official veterinarian:
to return the animal to its country of origin;
to isolate the animal under official control for the time necessary for it to meet the health requirements, at the expense of the owner or the natural person responsible for it; or
as a last resort, to put the animal down, without financial compensation, where its return or isolation in quarantine cannot be envisaged.
Member States shall ensure that animals which are refused authorisation to enter Community territory are housed under official control pending return to their country of origin or any other administrative decision.