1.The competent authority of the third country dispatching equidae or semen, ova or embryos of equidae, which are intended for entry into the Union shall ensure that the laboratory tests provided for in the health certificates set out in Annexes II and III for glanders, dourine, equine infectious anaemia, Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis, Western and Eastern equine encephalomyelitis, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile Fever, vesicular stomatitis, equine viral arteritis and contagious equine metritis meet at least the sensitivity and specificity requirements laid down for the disease concerned in the respective Chapter of Section 2.5 of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, latest edition, of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
2.The competent authority of the third country dispatching equidae which are destined for the Union shall ensure that the laboratory tests provided for in the health certificates set out in Annex II for African horse sickness are carried out in accordance with Annex IV to Directive 2009/156/EC.
3.The competent authority of the third country dispatching equidae or semen, ova or embryos of equidae, which are destined for the Union shall ensure compliance with the following:
(a)the tests referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 are carried out in a laboratory recognised by the competent authority in the third country of dispatch;
(b)the details of sampling and the results of the tests are stated as required in the health certificate set out for the consignment concerned in Annex II or III based on the laboratory report made available to the certifying official veterinarian.
1.Where a test carried out, in or on behalf of the Member State of entry, on a sample taken in accordance with Article 4 of Decision 97/794/EC does not confirm the result of a laboratory test attested in a health certificate accompanying equidae or semen, ova or embryos of equidae arriving in the Union, as set out in Annex II or III to this Regulation, the competent authority of that Member State of entry shall ensure that the test is repeated in the national reference laboratory designated for the disease concerned in accordance with Article 4(1) of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council(1).
2.Where the measures provided for in paragraph 1 do not result in a conclusive outcome of the checks for compliance carried out in accordance with Article 4 of Decision 97/794/EC, the competent authority referred to in paragraph 1 shall ensure that the sample referred to in that paragraph is subjected to definitive testing as follows:
(a)for African horse sickness, in the European Union reference laboratory for African horse sickness designated in accordance with Council Directive 92/35/EEC(2);
(b)for the diseases referred to in Article 11(1), in the European Union reference laboratory for equine diseases other than African horse sickness, designated in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 180/2008.
1.The competent authority of the third country dispatching equidae or semen, ova or embryos of equidae, which are destined for the Union, shall ensure that the vaccination attested in any of the certificates set out in Annexes II or III is carried out in compliance with the following:
(a)the vaccination is carried out in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions or national legislation, whatever is stricter;
(b)the vaccination is carried out using a licensed vaccine which meets at least the requirements for safety, sterility and efficacy set out for the vaccine concerned in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, latest edition, of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
2.Where the competent authority of a third country attests that a positive laboratory finding in a serological test for African horse sickness is related to previous vaccination, the vaccination shall be documented in the identification document accompanying the equine animal, where such identification document is available.
1.Uncastrated male equidae intended for entry into the Union, with the exception of those listed in point 1 of Annex IV, shall be subject to tests for equine viral arteritis to ascertain that their semen is free of equine arteritis virus.
2.Vaccination against equine viral arteritis, including the testing required in accordance with point 1(a) of Annex IV, shall be carried out under official veterinary supervision.
3.Vaccination against equine viral arteritis shall be valid where there is documented proof accompanying the equine animal of an uninterrupted history of a primary course carried out in compliance with one of the vaccination protocols provided for in point 1(a) of Annex IV and regular revaccination according to manufacturers' recommendations and in any event at intervals of not more than 12 months.
Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules (OJ L 165, 30.4.2004, p. 1).
Council Directive 92/35/EEC of 29 April 1992 laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness (OJ L 157, 10.6.1992, p. 19).