{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2018-418/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2018-418/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2018/418",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/418 of 16 March 2018 amending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 on protective measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (notified under document C(2018) 1700) (Text with EEA relevance)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2018-418",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/418\nof 16 March 2018\namending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 on protective measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States\n(notified under document C(2018) 1700)\n(Text with EEA relevance)\nTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,\nHaving 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, and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,\nHaving 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, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nCommission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was adopted following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 in a number of Member States (‘the concerned Member States’), and the establishment of protection and surveillance zones by the competent authority of the concerned Member States in accordance with Article 16(1) of Council Directive 2005/94/EC.\n(2)\nImplementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 provides that the protection and surveillance zones established by the competent authorities of the concerned Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC are to comprise at least the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 also lays down that the measures to be applied in the protection and surveillance zones, as provided for in Article 29(1) and Article 31 of Directive 2005/94/EC, are to be maintained until at least the dates for those zones set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.\n(3)\nSince the date of its adoption, Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 has been amended several times to take account of developments in the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards avian influenza. In particular, Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/696 in order to lay down rules regarding the dispatch of consignments of day-old chicks from the areas listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247. That amendment took into account the fact that day-old chicks pose a very low risk for the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza compared to other poultry commodities.\n(4)\nImplementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was also subsequently amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1841 in order to strengthen the disease control measures applicable where there is an increased risk for the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Consequently, Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 now provides for the establishment at Union level of further restricted zones in the concerned Member States, as referred to in Article 16(4) of Directive 2005/94/EC, following an outbreak or outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein. Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 now also lays down rules for the dispatch of live poultry, day-old chicks and hatching eggs from the further restricted zones to other Member States, subject to certain conditions.\n(5)\nIn addition, the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 has been amended numerous times, mainly to take account of changes in the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones established by the concerned Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC.\n(6)\nThe Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/342, following the notification by Bulgaria of a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in the region of Dobrich in that Member State and the notification by Italy of a new outbreak of that disease in the region of Lombardia of that Member State. Bulgaria and Italy also notified the Commission that they had duly taken the necessary measures required in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC following those outbreaks, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the infected poultry holdings.\n(7)\nSince the date of the last amendment made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/342, Italy has notified the Commission of further outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in poultry holdings, again in the region of Lombardia of that Member State. In addition, the Netherlands has also notified the Commission of a further outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N6 in that Member State located in the province of Overijssel.\n(8)\nItaly and the Netherlands have also notified the Commission that they have taken the necessary measures required in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC following those recent outbreaks, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the infected poultry holdings in those Member States.\n(9)\nThe Commission has examined those measures in collaboration with Italy and the Netherlands, and the Commission is satisfied that the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones, established by the competent authorities of Italy and the Netherlands, are at a sufficient distance to the poultry holdings where the new outbreaks were confirmed.\n(10)\nIn order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union, and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly describe at Union level, in collaboration with Italy and the Netherlands, the protection and surveillance zones established in Italy and the Netherlands, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in those Member States.\n(11)\nImplementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should therefore be updated to take account of the up-to-date epidemiological situation in Italy and the Netherlands, as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza. In particular, the protection and surveillance zones in Italy and the Netherlands, now subject to restrictions in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, should be listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247.\n(12)\nThe Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should therefore be amended to update regionalisation at Union level in order to include the protection and surveillance zones established in Italy and the Netherlands, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in those Member States, and the duration of the restrictions applicable therein.\n(13)\nImplementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should therefore be amended accordingly.\n(14)\nThe measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 of 9 February 2017 on protective measures in relation to outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L 36, 11.2.2017, p. 62)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC (OJ L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f5",
      "text": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/696 of 11 April 2017 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 on protective measures in relation to outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L 101, 13.4.2017, p. 80)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f6",
      "text": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1841 of 10 October 2017 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 on protective measures in relation to outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L 261, 11.10.2017, p. 26)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f7",
      "text": "Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/342 of 7 March 2018 amending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 on protective measures in relation to outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L 65, 8.3.2018, p. 43)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2018/418/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:13:09.869075+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}