1.The inclusion of a third country or region thereof in the list referred to in point (a) of Article 126(2) shall be made in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article.
2.The Commission shall approve, by means of implementing acts, the request transmitted to it for the purpose referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article by the third country concerned, accompanied by appropriate evidence and guarantees that the animals and goods concerned from that third country comply with the relevant requirements referred to in Article 126(1) or with requirements equivalent thereto. Those implementing acts shall be adopted and updated in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 145(2).
3.The Commission shall decide on the request referred to in paragraph 2 taking into account, as appropriate:
(a)the third country’s legislation in the sector concerned;
(b)the structure and organisation of the competent authorities of the third country and its control services, the powers available to them, the guarantees that can be provided with regard to the application and enforcement of the legislation of the third country applicable to the sector concerned, and the reliability of the official certification procedures;
(c)the performance by the competent authorities of the third country of adequate official controls and other activities to assess the presence of hazards for human, animal or plant health, for animal welfare or, in relation to GMOs and plant protection products, also for the environment;
(d)the regularity and rapidity of information supplied by the third country on the presence of hazards for human, animal or plant health, for animal welfare or, in relation to GMOs and plant protection products, also for the environment;
(e)the guarantees given by the third country that:
conditions applied to the establishments from which animals or goods are exported to the Union comply with requirements that are equivalent to those referred to in Article 126(1);
a list of the establishments referred to in point (i) is drawn up and kept up to date;
the list of establishments referred to in point (i) and updates thereof are communicated to the Commission without delay;
the establishments referred to in point (i) are the subject of regular and effective controls by the competent authorities of the third country;
(f)the findings of controls performed by the Commission in the third country in accordance with Article 120(1);
(g)any other information or data on the capability of the third country to ensure that only animals or goods which provide the same or an equivalent level of protection as that afforded by the relevant requirements referred to in Article 126(1) enter the Union.
4.The Commission shall delete the reference to a third country or a region of a third country from the list referred to in point (a) of Article 126(2) where the conditions for inclusion on the list cease to be met. The procedure referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article shall apply.