Article 1 · Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/273

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Article 1Amendments to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122#

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122 is amended as follows:

(1)Article 1 is replaced by the following:‘Article 1Subject matterThis Regulation lays down rules for the cases where and the conditions under which certain categories of animals and goods are exempted from official controls at border control posts, and the cases where and the conditions under which specific control tasks may be performed by customs authorities or other public authorities, insofar as those tasks are not already falling under the responsibility of those authorities, on passengers’ personal luggage and non-commercial movements of pet animals into the Union.’;

(2)in Article 2, the following points are added:

(9)‘‘pet owner’’ means a pet owner as defined in Article 4, point (13), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(10)‘‘authorised person’’ means an authorised person as defined in Article 4, point (15), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(11)‘‘travellers’ point of entry’’ means a travellers’ point of entry as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131^note.

(3)Article 11 is replaced by the following:‘Article 11Pet animalsThe following pet animals entering the Union during a non-commercial movement are exempted from official controls at border control posts other than official controls carried out in accordance with Article 15(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 and official controls carried out to verify compliance with Article 57(1) of Regulation (EC) No 865/2006, provided that they meet the conditions laid down in Part VI of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and, where applicable, in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131:

(1)pet animals of a species listed in Part A of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 that:

(a)are moved from a third country or a territory listed in accordance with Article 17(1), point (a), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and at the request of the competent authorities, the customs authorities or other public authorities, on a risk-based and non-discriminatory basis, meet the following conditions:

(i)the pet owner or the authorised person:

—presents the passports of the animals referred to in Article 20, point (a), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, which demonstrate compliance with the requirements of movement laid down in that Delegated Regulation, or presents the passports of the animals referred to in Article 11(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, where the conditions laid down in Article 20, point (b), of that Delegated Regulation are met;

—makes the animals available for the checks referred to in point (ii);

(ii)the animals are subjected to documentary and identity checks;

(b)are moved from a third country or a territory other than those listed in accordance with Article 17(1), point (a), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and meet the following conditions:

(i)the pet owner or the authorised person:

—on arrival, contacts the competent authorities, the customs authorities or other public authorities responsible for the checks at the travellers’ point of entry;

—presents the animal health certificate referred to in Article 18(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of movement laid down in that Delegated Regulation, or the passport referred to in Article 11(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, where the conditions laid down in Article 20, point (b), of that Delegated Regulation are met;

—makes the animals available for the checks referred to in point (ii);

(ii)the animals are subjected to documentary checks and identity checks at the travellers’ point of entry on a systematic basis;

(c)meet the conditions laid down in Article 15, point (b), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 as regards the movement of pet dogs by military personnel, law enforcement personnel or search-and-rescue teams through a point of entry into the Union other than a travellers’ point of entry, and are subjected to checks in accordance with the specific arrangements defined by the competent authority in the permit referred to in Article 15, point (b)(i), of that Delegated Regulation;

(d)meet the conditions for the derogation provided for in Article 29 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and are subjected to checks on a systematic basis and in accordance with the specific arrangements defined by the competent authority in the permit referred to in Article 29(1), point (a), of that Delegated Regulation; or

(e)originate from and are returned to the Union following a refusal of entry of the animals, the pet owner or the authorised person by the competent authority of a third country or a territory, and meet the following conditions:

(i)the pet owner or the authorised person:

—on arrival, contacts the competent authorities, the customs authorities or other public authorities responsible for the checks at the travellers’ point of entry;

—presents the passport referred to in Article 11(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131;

—where applicable, presents the animal health certificate issued by the competent authority of the Member State of origin or any other valid document, that accompanied the pet animals for the non-commercial movement to the third country or the territory;

—where applicable, presents the official document issued by the competent authority or other public authority of the third country or the territory, that indicates the reasons for the refusal;

—makes the animals available for the checks referred to in point (ii);

(ii)the animals are subjected to documentary checks and identity checks at the travellers’ point of entry on a systematic basis;

(2)birds of avian species listed in Part B of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 that:

(a)are moved from a third country or a territory not referred to in Article 28 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and meet the following conditions:

(i)the pet owner or the authorised person:

—on arrival, contacts the competent authorities, the customs authorities or other public authorities responsible for the checks at the travellers’ point of entry;

—presents the animal health certificate referred to in Article 26(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, that demonstrates compliance with the requirements of movement laid down in that Delegated Regulation;

—makes the birds available for the checks referred to in point (ii);

(ii)the birds are subjected to documentary checks and identity checks at the travellers’ point of entry on a systematic basis;

(b)meet the conditions for the derogation provided for in Article 29 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and are subjected to checks on a systematic basis and in accordance with the specific arrangements defined by the competent authority in the permit referred to in Article 29(1), point (a), of that Delegated Regulation; or

(c)originate from and are returned to the Union following a refusal of entry of the birds, the pet owner or the authorised person by the competent authority of a third country or a territory, and meet the following conditions:

(i)the pet owner or the authorised person:

—on arrival, contacts the competent authorities, the customs authorities or other public authorities responsible for the checks at the travellers’ point of entry;

—where applicable, presents the animal health certificate issued by the competent authority of the Member State of origin or any other valid document that accompanied the pet animals for the non-commercial movement to the third country or the territory;

—where applicable, presents the official document issued by the competent authority or other public authority of the third country or the territory, that indicates the reasons for the refusal;

—makes the birds available for the checks referred to in point (ii);

(ii)the birds are subjected to documentary checks and identity checks at the travellers’ point of entry on a systematic basis;

(3)birds of avian species listed in Part B of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 that are moved from a third country or a territory referred to in Article 28 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131;

(4)pet animals of species other than birds listed in Part B of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/429.’

;

(4)the following Articles 11a and 11b are added:‘Article 11aRequirements for official controls on pet animalsThe competent authorities, the customs authorities or other public authorities that have been designated to perform the checks referred to in Article 11, points (1) and (2), of this Regulation shall:

(a)be fully informed of the rules laid down in Part VI of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131;

(a)isolate the pet animal under official supervision for the time necessary for it to comply;

(b)ensure that their staff receive appropriate and regular training enabling them to undertake their duties competently and perform the checks in a consistent manner;

(b)adopt any other administrative decision for the pet animal to comply;

(c)keep records of the checks that have been carried out and of instances of non-compliance identified during those checks; and

(c)re-dispatch the pet animal outside the Union; or

(d)document the outcome of the checks in the relevant section of the animal health certificate for each pet animal, when required in accordance with Article 18(2), point (k), and Article 26(2), point (j), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131.

(d)where the application of the measures referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) is not practical, order that the pet animal be killed in accordance with applicable national rules relating to the protection of pet animals at the time of killing.

Article 11bMeasures to be taken in case of non-compliance of pet animals or pet animals not made available for official controls1.Where the pet animal is not made available by the pet owner or the authorised person for the checks referred to in Article 11, points (1) and (2), of this Regulation, or where the outcome of those checks reveals that a pet animal does not comply with the conditions laid down in Part VI of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 or in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, the competent authorities, the customs authorities or other public authorities that have been designated to perform the checks shall decide, after consultation with the official veterinarian and, where necessary, with the pet owner or the authorised person, to:2.Where the non-commercial movement of a pet animal into the Union is refused by the competent authorities, the customs authorities or other public authorities responsible for the checks referred to in Article 11, points (1) and (2), the pet animal shall be isolated under official supervision, pending the adoption of the measures provided for in paragraph 1, points (c) and (d).3.The measures referred to in this Article shall be applied at the expense of the pet owner or the authorised person.’.