Identification of equine animals which have entered the Union
Identification documents issued in third countries shall be deemed valid in accordance with this Regulation for the identification of equine animals released for free circulation, provided that they comply with the following conditions:
(a)
the identification documents were issued:
(i)
in the case of purebred breeding animals of the equine species, by a breeding body in a third country which issues the zootechnical certificate and which is one of the breeding bodies listed in accordance with Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012; or
(ii)
in the case of a registered horse, by a national federation or branch of an international organisation or association which manages horses for competition or racing with its headquarters in a third country listed for entry into the Union of equine animals; or
(iii)
in all other cases, by the competent authority of the third country of origin of the equine animal;
(b)
the identification documents comply with all the requirements of Article 17.
Application for identification documents for equine animals which have entered the Union and are released for free circulation
1. Operators of equine animals which entered the Union from a third country shall apply to the competent authority of the place of habitual residence of the equine animal, or as applicable the delegated body, for the issuing of a single lifetime identification document, or for the registration of the existing identification document referred to in Article 36 of this Regulation in the computer database, within a period of 30 days from the date of completion of the customs procedure for release for free circulation as laid down in Article 201 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013.
2. Where the existing identification document referred to in paragraph 1 does not comply with the requirements laid down in Article 17 , the competent authority, or as applicable the delegated body, shall on request of the operator:
(a)
complete the identification document, so that it complies with the requirements laid down in Article 17;
(b)
record the identification details of the equine animal and the complementary information in the computer database.
3. Where the existing identification document as referred to in Article 36 cannot be amended so as to comply with the requirements laid down in Article 17, it shall not be considered valid for identification purposes in accordance with this Regulation, and the equine animal shall be identified by issuing, in accordance with Article 21(3), a new single lifetime identification document based on the information contained in the submitted identification document on which the equine animal has entered the Union.
