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(3) 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(3) thereof,

Whereas:

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a severe viral disease of small ruminants, namely sheep and goats, which is transmitted primarily via direct contact. Morbidity and mortality due to PPR can be very high, especially in areas where PPR occurs for the first time, and cause serious economic impact to the agricultural sector. PPR is not transmissible to humans. PPR is endemic in many countries of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, and it is of great concern for animal health and welfare.

Council Directive 92/119/EEC^f3 lays down general measures to be taken for the control of certain animal diseases, including PPR. These include control measures to be taken in the event of the suspicion and the confirmation of PPR in a holding. These control measures also include the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around outbreaks and other additional measures to control the spread of that disease.

In accordance with Article 14.7.7 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (‘the Code’), Edition 2017, of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)^f4, when a PPR outbreak or PPRV infection occurs in a PPR-free country or zone and when a stamping-out policy is practised, the recovery period shall be six months after the slaughter of the last case provided that Article 14.7.32 of that Code has been complied with.

On 23 June 2018, Bulgaria notified the Commission and the other Member States of three outbreaks of PPR in small ruminant holdings in the municipality of Bolyarovo, in the region of Yambol in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria has taken the control measures provided for in Directive 92/119/EEC, and in particular the ‘stamping out’ of infected herds, and the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the outbreaks as provided for in that Directive. Surveillance has also been intensified in the municipalities neighbouring the affected zones, as well as in the municipalities located along the border of the Union with third countries not free of PPR.

In addition to the measures provided for in Directive 92/119/EEC, it is necessary to take interim protection measures to prevent the spread of PPR. Accordingly, in order to prevent the spread of PPR to other areas of Bulgaria, and to other Member States and third countries, particularly through trade in small ruminants and their germinal products, the dispatch of consignments of small ruminants and the placing on the market of certain products derived from small ruminants, should be controlled.

Pending the meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed and in collaboration with the Member State concerned, the Commission should take interim protective measures relating to peste des petits ruminants in Bulgaria.

The situation shall be reviewed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, and the measures adapted where necessary,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: