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Specific rules for non-commercial movement of pet animals

1. The specific rules laid down in this Article for non-commercial movements of pet animals entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom shall only apply where all of the following conditions are fulfilled:

(a) written guarantees have been provided by the United Kingdom that:

(i) those pet animals do not increase the risk to animal health on the island of Ireland or affect its sanitary status, or increase the risk to public and animal health in the internal market or undermine its integrity;

(ii) the competent authorities of the United Kingdom take effective action to reduce, to a minimum, the possibility of pet animals being moved from Northern Ireland to a Member State, evidenced through information on the official procedures for deciding which measures to take in the case of non-compliance;

(iii) the competent authorities of the United Kingdom apply requirements related to non-commercial movements of pet animals into the United Kingdom to protect its animal health status;

(iv) the competent authorities of the United Kingdom carry out effective documentary and identity checks on pet animals entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom in accordance with point (f);

(v) the competent authorities of the United Kingdom implement an early detection and notification system for Echinococcus multilocularis infection in wild definitive host animals, and immediately notify the Commission of any such detection;

(vi) the competent authorities of the United Kingdom implement an early detection and notification system for rabies infection in kept and wild susceptible animals, and immediately notify the Commission of any suspicion or detection of rabies infection by the competent authorities of the United Kingdom;

(b) the Commission has adopted an implementing act in accordance with paragraph 4;

(c) the pet animals originate in parts of the United Kingdom other than Northern Ireland and will not be subsequently moved to a Member State;

(d) the pet animals are identified with a transponder that complies with the technical requirements set out in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013;

(e) the pet animals are accompanied by a pet travel document, in written or electronic format, in accordance with paragraph 4, which has been validated by the competent authorities of the United Kingdom in accordance with paragraph 2, and a signed declaration is provided by the owner or authorised person that those pet animals identified in accordance with point (d) and covered by the pet travel document will not be subsequently moved from Northern Ireland to a Member State;

(f) the competent authorities of the United Kingdom carry out documentary and identity checks on the pet animals accompanied by the pet travel document and declaration as referred to in point (e), presented by the owner or authorised person after boarding has been completed and before arrival in Northern Ireland, or at the time of first arrival into Northern Ireland, to demonstrate compliance with the specific rules laid down in this Article; in the case of non-compliance revealed during those checks as provided in the official procedures referred to in point (a)(ii), the pet animals shall be presented to the competent authorities of the United Kingdom at the SPS Inspection Facilities of first arrival in Northern Ireland that comply with the requirements set out in Annex II to remedy such non-compliance.

2. The pet travel document referred to in paragraph 1, point (e), shall only be issued after the competent authorities of the United Kingdom have duly verified that the relevant entries in the document have been correctly and truthfully completed with the information required by an implementing act adopted in accordance with paragraph 4, thereby certifying compliance with the conditions laid down in paragraph 1, points (c) and (d).

3. For the non-commercial movement of pet animals originating in Northern Ireland which only travel to other parts of the United Kingdom and subsequently directly return to Northern Ireland:

(i) the pet animals shall be identified with a transponder in accordance with the requirements laid down in paragraph 1, point (d);

(ii) the requirements laid down in paragraph 1, points (c), (e) and (f), shall not apply;

(iii) the relevant requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 shall not apply.

4. Where the conditions laid down in paragraph 1, point (a), are fulfilled, the Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down rules on the information to be included in the pet travel document for non-commercial movements of pet animals entering into Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom, including the content of the declaration referred to in paragraph 1, point (e). Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 18(2).

5. The Commission shall monitor the application by the United Kingdom of the conditions referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3. Where there is evidence, such as a Union inspection report, an audit, or a notification under IMSOC that the United Kingdom does not take appropriate measures to tackle serious or repeated infringements of the conditions laid down in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, the Commission shall, after having duly informed and consulted with the United Kingdom, adopt an implementing act laying down appropriate special conditions and measures, or amending the implementing acts adopted in accordance with paragraph 4.

Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 18(2) and (3),