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 259(1) thereof,
Whereas:
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333(2) was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and it lays down emergency measures relating to outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Spain, that were detected in the regions of Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha, where they form two distinct clusters, one in each region. That Implementing Decision applies until 31 October 2023.
More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 provides that the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones, to be established by Spain following outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox, in accordance with Article 21 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687(3), are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.
In addition to the protection and surveillance zones, a further restricted zone was established, in accordance with Article 21(1), point (c), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, in both the regions of Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha, where Spain is required to apply certain measures regarding restrictions on the movements of sheep and goats outside that further restricted zone, with a view to preventing the spread of sheep pox and goat pox to the rest of its territory and to the rest of the Union.
After the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333, Spain notified the Commission of a number of additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where sheep and/or goats were kept. As a result, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones, as well as the areas listed as further restricted zones for Spain, in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333, were subsequently amended. The last amendment to that Annex was made by the Commission Implementing Decision 2023/872(4).
Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/872, Spain has notified the Commission of one additional outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where sheep and/or goats were kept, in the region of Castilla-La Mancha, more specifically in the Province of Cuenca, outside the surveillance zone already established in that region.
The competent authority of Spain has taken the necessary disease control measures required in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the new outbreak. Spain has also maintained the previously established restricted zones, around the previous outbreaks, recorded since the beginning of 2023 in Castilla-La Mancha, in the Province of Ciudad Real.
Therefore, the areas listed as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones for Spain in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 should be amended, spatially and temporally, taking into account the current epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in the region of Castilla-La Mancha.
Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of sheep pox and goat pox, it is important that the amendments to be made to the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 by this Decision take effect as soon as possible.
In addition, taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the Union as regards sheep pox and goat pox, the period of application of Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 should be prolonged until 31 December 2023.
Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 should therefore be amended accordingly.
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 is amended as follows:
Article 5 is replaced by the following:
;This Decision shall apply until 31 December 2023.’
the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Spain.
Done at Brussels, 7 June 2023.
For the Commission
Stella Kyriakides
Member of the Commission
‘
’ ANNEX
A. Protection and surveillance zones established around confirmed outbreaks
Region and ADIS reference number of the outbreak
Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the restricted zones in Spain as referred to in Article 1
Date until applicable
Region of Castilla–La Mancha
ES-CAPRIPOX-2023-00003
ES-CAPRIPOX-2023-00004
ES-CAPRIPOX-2023-00005
ES-CARPIPOX-2023-00006
ES-CARPIPOX-2023-00007
Protection zone:
A protection zone that comprises the following areas:
In the province of Ciudad Real the municipalities of:
Alcázar de San Juan
Campo de Criptana
Pedro Muñoz
In the province of Albacete the municipality of:
Minaya
In province of Cuenca the municipalities of:
Sisante
Casas de Fernando Alonso
Casas de Haro
Casas de los Pinos
El Pedernoso
El Provencio
Las Mesas
Las Pedroñeras
Mota del Cuervo
Pozoamargo
San Clemente
Santa María de los Llanos
Vara de Rey
20.7.2023
Surveillance zone:
A surveillance zone that comprises the following areas:
In the province of Ciudad Real the municipalities of:
Villarta de San Juan
Villarrubia de los Ojos
Tomelloso
Socuéllamos
Puerto Lápice
Manzanares
Llanos de Caudillo
Las Labores
Herencia
Daimiel
Argamasilla de Alba
Arenas de San Juan
Arenales de San Gregorio
In the province of Toledo the municipalities of:
Villafranca de los Caballeros
Villacañas
Quintanar de la Orden
Quero
Miguel Esteban
Madridejos
La Villa de Don Fabrique
La Puebla de Almoradiel
El Toboso
Camuñas
In the province of Cuenca the municipalities of:
Atalaya del Cañavate
Cañada Juncosa
El Cañavate
Honrubia
Pinarejo
Alarcón
Casas de Benítez
Casas de Guijarro
Casasimarro
El Picazo
Pozorrubielos de la Mancha
Quintanar del Rey
Tébar
Valhermoso de la Fuente
Villanueva de la Jara
Belmonte
Carrascosa de Haro
La Alberca de Záncara
Los Hinojosos
Monreal del Llano
Rada de Haro
Santa María del Campo Rus
Villaescusa de Haro (only the exclave of Dehesa de Alcahozo)
In the province of Albacete the municipalities of:
Fuensanta
La Roda
Munera
Tarazona de la Mancha
Villalgordo del Júcar
Villarrobledo
7.8.2023
Surveillance zone:
A surveillance zone that comprises the following areas:
In the province of Ciudad Real the municipalities of:
Alcázar de San Juan
Campo de Criptana
Pedro Muñoz
In the province of Albacete the municipality of:
Minaya
In province of Cuenca the municipalities of:
Sisante
Casas de Fernando Alonso
Casas de Haro
Casas de los Pinos
El Pedernoso
El Provencio
Las Mesas
Las Pedroñeras
Mota del Cuervo
Pozoamargo
San Clemente
Santa María de los Llanos
Vara de Rey
21.7.2023-7.8.2023
B. Further restricted zones
Region
Areas established as further restricted zones, part of the restricted zones in Spain as referred to in Article 1
Date until applicable
Region of Castilla–La Mancha
A further restricted zone that comprises the following provinces:
Albacete
Ciudad Real
Cuenca
Toledo
25.9.2023