Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3232 of 19 December 2024 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (notified under document C(2024) 9300)

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:

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 zone around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

4. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2778⁽⁴⁾ was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and it laid down certain interim emergency measures relating to infection with sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria.

5. After the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2778, Bulgaria notified the Commission of an additional outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in an establishment where ovine and caprine animals were kept. As a result, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918⁽⁵⁾ repealed and replaced Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2778. More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 provides that the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones to be established by Bulgaria, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

6. After the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918, Bulgaria notified the Commission of further outbreaks of infection with sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine animals were kept. Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 was therefore amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3111⁽⁶⁾.

7. Subsequently, Bulgaria has notified the Commission of two additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine and caprine animals were kept, located in the regions of Sliven and Haskovo. One of the outbreaks is located outside the restricted zones that were already established as a result of previous outbreaks.

8. Therefore, the areas listed as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones for Bulgaria in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 should be adjusted, spatially and temporally, in order to prevent the further spread of the disease in Bulgaria and to the rest of the Union, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein should be adjusted. Furthermore, it is necessary to establish additional protection, surveillance and further restricted zones and lay down the duration of the measures to be applied therein in relation to the outbreak confirmed in the region of Sliven. The list of restricted zones and the duration of the measures to be applied therein set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision should therefore be amended accordingly.

9. The size of the zones, the duration of the measures to be applied in the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones are based on the criteria set out in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, including the epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in the areas affected by that disease and the overall epidemiological situation of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria as well as the level of risk for the further spread of the disease. The duration of the measures also takes into account the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH⁽⁷⁾). In the current epidemiological situation, there is a high risk of the further spread of the disease due to the fact that a new outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox has occurred, with the first outbreak confirmed in the region of Sliven. This indicates that the disease continues to persist and spread over long distances, in spite of the measures already in place.

10. The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 should therefore be amended accordingly.

11. 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) 2024/2918 should be prolonged until 1 March 2025.

12. 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: