The European Commission reiterated, on Thursday 4 March, that it did not want to postpone the new animal health legislation for a year, during a debate in the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture. However, it indicated that it accepted transitional measures of six months for new ‘veterinary and animal health certificates’.
Regulation 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases and amending certain acts in the field of animal health will therefore enter into force, as planned, on 21 April 2021.
Several MEPs, including Carmen Avram (S&D, Romania), Hilde Vautmans (Renew Europe, Belgium), Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, Germany) and Zbigniew Kuźmiuk (ECR, Poland), have called for a postponement of the entry into force of this legislation. Already last October, the Commission refused such a postponement of animal health legislation (see EUROPE 12585/19).
Transitional measures. The Commission told MEPs it would help EU countries to apply the new rules, including through transitional measures. Countries will have until 20 October 2021 to introduce the new veterinary and animal health certificates. In addition, an exemption will be granted for these certificates when travelling within the EU.
In addition, the Commission intends to help Member States to achieve “a smooth transition through a pragmatic and flexible approach to the application of the rules in the first few months”. A way of saying that the Commission will not immediately launch infringement proceedings if the rules are not respected.
Racing pigeons. Numerous implementing acts (traceability of equines, terrestrial animals, racing pigeons) are planned.
The one on racing pigeons will be submitted to the Member States for approval on 19 March: elimination of the 21-day residence requirement and elimination of the requirement for animal health certificates for racing pigeons.
Other delegated acts concern germ products (Friday 5 March) and products of animal origin. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)