Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market^f1, and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market^f2, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption^f3, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU^f4 lays down animal health control measures in relation to African swine fever in certain Member States. The Annex to that Implementing Decision demarcates and lists certain areas of those Members States in Parts I to IV thereof, differentiated by the level of risk based on the epidemiological situation. That list includes certain areas of Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.

In June 2017, two outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs occurred in the county of Parnu in Estonia and in the municipality of Varena in Lithuania, in areas currently listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. The occurrence of these outbreaks constitutes an increase in the level of risk that needs to be taken into account.

In June 2017, one cases of African swine fever in wild boar was observed in the gmina of Sokółka in Poland in an area currently listed in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. The occurrence of this case constitutes an increase in the level of risk that needs to be taken into account.

The evolution of the current epidemiological situation of African swine fever in the affected domestic and feral pig populations in the Union should be taken into account in the assessment of the animal health risk posed by the new disease situation in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. In order to focus the animal health control measures provided for in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU, and to prevent the further spread of African swine fever, while preventing any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union, and avoiding unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, the Union list of areas subject to the animal health control measures set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision should be amended to take into account of the changes in the epidemiological situation as regards that disease in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. Accordingly, the areas affected by the new outbreaks in Estonia and Lithuania should now be listed in Part III, instead of in Part II of that Annex and the relevant area of Poland should now be listed in Part II, instead of Part I, of that Annex.

The Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU 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: