Pet animals in transit and infectious diseases

19.10.2017

Question for written answer E-006555-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Dominique Bilde (ENF)

Regulation 576/2013 governs the movement of pet animals within the European Union.

Rabies is the only disease for which health checks are carried out, based on a vaccination certificate whose validity requirements are set out in point 2 of Annex III to the regulation. The rabies antibody titration test is not required for animals originating in the Member States and Article 7 of the regulation provides for some derogations to the vaccination certificate.

These shortcomings leave the Member States exposed to health risks, given that rabies is still present in some Member States. Rabies is passed on by dogs in 90% of cases in humans.

The regulation does not provide for any health checks for other pathologies, such as, in particular, ‘Echinococcus multilocularis’, a potentially fatal infection that is often asymptomatic in animals, or babesiosis and leishmaniasis, which are endemic in some Member States.

1. Does the Commission plan to amend Regulation 576/2013 to step up rabies health check requirements for animals coming from Member States where rabies is still present?

2. Regulation 576/2013 authorises the Commission to take additional health measures by means of delegated acts. Does the Commission plan to introduce measures concerning the aforementioned infectious diseases?