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 Member States in Parts I to IV thereof, differentiated by the level of risk based on the epidemiological situation as regards that disease.

In December 2017, a few cases of African swine fever in wild boar were observed in Poland, in powiecie parczewski and warszawski currently listed in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. These cases constitute an increased level of risk that should be reflected in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. Accordingly, the powiat miejski Warszawa and gmina Siemień affected by these cases of African swine fever in wild boar in Poland should now be listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU, instead of in Part I, and in addition gmina Wiązowna in Poland should now be listed in Part I of that Annex.

The evolution of the current epidemiological situation of African swine fever in the feral pig population in the Union should be taken into account in the assessment of the risk to animal health posed by the new disease situation in certain Member States and neighbouring third countries. 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 at the same time preventing any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union, and also 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 updated to take account of the changes in the epidemiological situation as regards that disease in Poland.

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: