Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/279 of 6 February 2026 amending Annex XII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entry for Canada in the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof, authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of germinal products of equine animals

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (1), and in particular Article 230(1) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down, inter alia, the animal health requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin. One of those animal health requirements is that those consignments must come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation.

(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (2) supplements Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards the animal health requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories, or zones or compartments thereof. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin falling within its scope are only to be permitted to enter into the Union if they come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed for the particular species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin.

(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (3) lays down the lists of third countries or territories, or zones or compartments thereof, from which the entry into the Union of consignments of species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, that fall within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692, is permitted. The lists and certain general rules concerning the lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII to that Implementing Regulation.

(4) Annex XII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 sets out the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of germinal products of equine animals.

(5) Canada is currently listed in Annex XII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of semen of registered horses, registered equidae and other equine animals not for slaughter. Canada has now requested to be listed in that Annex XII as authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of oocytes and embryos of those categories of equine animals, and it has provided all the necessary animal health guarantees for such authorisation. Therefore, Annex XII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be amended by authorising Canada also for the entry into the Union of consignments of oocytes and embryos of registered horses, registered equidae and other equine animals not for slaughter.

(6) Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(7) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex XII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 6 February 2026.

For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj.

(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin (OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 379, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2020/692/oj).

(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 of 24 March 2021 laying down the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof from which the entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin is permitted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council (OJ L 114, 31.3.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/404/oj).