Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2067 of 26 September 2023 concerning certain interim emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (notified under document C(2023) 6575) (Only the Bulgarian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance)

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(2) thereof,

Whereas:

1. Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease affecting caprine and ovine animals and can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming causing disturbance to movements of consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries.

2. In the event of an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of caprine or ovine animals.

3. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687⁽²⁾ supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882⁽³⁾. In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including sheep pox and goat pox, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

4. Bulgaria has informed the Commission of the current sheep pox and goat pox situation on its territory, following an outbreak of that disease in caprine and ovine animals in the region of Burgas, which was confirmed on 16 September 2023, and, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, it has established a restricted zone, which comprises protection and surveillance zones, where the general disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are applied, as well as a further restricted zone where certain control measures are also applied in order to prevent the further spread of that disease.

5. In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly identify at Union level the restricted zone for sheep pox and goat pox, which comprises the protection and surveillance zones, as well as the further restricted zone, in Bulgaria in collaboration with that Member State.

6. Accordingly, the areas identified as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Bulgaria should be set out in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that regionalisation fixed.

7. Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of sheep pox and goat pox and the need to prevent the disease spreading from the affected establishment in Bulgaria to other parts of that Member State or to other Member States, it is appropriate that the measures laid down in this Implementing Decision apply as soon as possible.

8. Accordingly, pending the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Bulgaria should be established immediately and listed in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that zoning fixed.

9. This Decision is to be reviewed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: