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,

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 it can have a serious economic impact on 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.

On 23 June 2018, Bulgaria notified the Commission and the other Member States of one outbreak of a PPR, in three small ruminant holdings, where animals from those holdings graze together 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 control measures provided for in Directive 92/119/EEC, it is necessary to take additional protective 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 to 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.

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/911^f4 was adopted in order to prevent its spread of PPR to other parts of Bulgaria, and to other Member States and to third countries. That act provides for interim protective measures and, in particular, it prohibits the dispatch of consignments of small ruminants and the placing on the market of certain products derived from small ruminants from the region of Yambol in Bulgaria.

Since the last date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/911, Bulgaria has notified the Commission of a new outbreak of PPR in a small ruminant holding in region of Burgas of that Member State.

Bulgaria has also notified the Commission that it has taken the necessary measures required in accordance with Directive 92/119/EEC following that recent outbreak, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the infected holding in that Member State.

The protective measures provided for in this Decision should take into account of the up-to-date epidemiological situation in Bulgaria and replace the interim protective measures laid down in Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/911. That Decision should therefore be repealed.

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: