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 checks applicable in intra-Union 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, where there have been confirmed cases of that disease in domestic or feral pigs (the Member States concerned). The Annex to that Implementing Decision demarcates and lists certain areas of the Member States concerned in Parts I to IV thereof, differentiated by the level of risk based on the epidemiological situation as regards that disease. The Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU has been amended several times to take account of changes in the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards African swine fever that need to be reflected in that Annex. The Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU was last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1270^f5, following instances of African swine fever in Bulgaria, Poland and Lithuania.

Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1270, there have been further instances of African swine fever in feral and domestic pigs in Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland. Following these recent instances of that disease, and taking into account the current epidemiological situation, regionalisation in those three Member States has been reassessed and updated. In addition, the risk management measures in place also have been reassessed and updated. These changes need to be reflected in the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.

In July 2019, one outbreak of African swine fever in domestic pigs was observed in the region of Vidin in Bulgaria in an area currently listed in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. This outbreak of African swine fever in domestic pigs constitutes an increased level of risk which should be reflected in that Annex. Accordingly, this area of Bulgaria affected by African swine fever should be listed in Part III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU instead of in Part I thereof.

In July 2019, one case of African swine fever in feral pigs was observed in the region of Plovdiv in Bulgaria in an area currently not included in the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. This case of African swine fever in feral pigs constitutes an increased level of risk which should be reflected in that Annex. Accordingly, this area of Bulgaria affected by African swine fever should be listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.

In July 2019, a few cases of African swine fever in feral pigs were observed in the counties of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg in Hungary in an area listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU, located in close proximity to areas listed in Part I of the Annex thereto. These cases of African swine fever in feral pigs constitute an increased level of risk which should be reflected in that Annex. Accordingly, those areas of Hungary listed in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU that are in close proximity to the area listed in Part II affected by those recent cases of African swine fever should now be listed in Part II of that Annex to instead of in Part I thereof.

In July 2019, one case of African swine fever in feral pigs was observed in the district of plocky in Poland in an area currently listed in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. This case of African swine fever in feral pigs constitutes an increased level of risk which should be reflected in that Annex. Accordingly, this area of Poland affected by African swine fever should be listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU instead of in Part I thereof.

In July 2019, two outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs were observed in the districts of kozienicki and zamojski in Poland in areas currently listed in Parts I and II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. These outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs constitute an increased level of risk which should be reflected in that Annex. Accordingly, these areas of Poland affected by African swine fever should be listed in Part III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU instead of in Parts I and II thereof.

In order to take account of recent developments in the epidemiological evolution of African swine fever in the Union, and in order to combat the risks associated with the spread of that disease in a proactive manner, new high-risk areas of a sufficient size should be demarcated for Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland and duly listed in Parts I, II and III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. 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: