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) 2019/1336^f5, following instances of African swine fever in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.

Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1336, there have been further instances of African swine fever in feral and domestic pigs in Bulgaria, Poland and Slovakia. Following these recent instances of that disease, and taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the Union, 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 August 2019, one outbreak of African swine fever was observed in domestic pigs in the region of Blagoevgrad and three cases in feral pigs were observed in the regions of Smolyan and Veliko Tarnovo in Bulgaria in areas currently listed in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU, and in the region of Shumen in close proximity to an area currently listed in Part I of the Annex thereto. This outbreak and these cases of African swine fever constitute an increased level of risk which should be reflected in that Annex. Accordingly, these areas of Bulgaria affected by African swine fever should be listed in Parts II and III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.

In August 2019, two outbreaks of African swine fever were observed in domestic pigs in the district of elblaski and three cases of African swine fever in feral pigs were observed in the districts of biłgorajski, rycki and ostrodzki in Poland in areas listed in Parts I and II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. These outbreaks and cases of African swine fever in feral 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 Parts II and III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.

In July and August 2019, ten outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs and three cases in feral pigs were observed in Slovakia. Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2019/1273^f6 and (EU) 2019/1334^f7 were adopted in response to those occurrences. Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1334 repealed and replaced Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1273 and it applies until 18 November 2019. Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/1334 provides that the protection and surveillance zones established by Slovakia in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC, where the measures provided for in Articles 10 and 11 thereof apply, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. However, the epidemiological situation has continued to evolve.

These recent outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs and the case in a feral pig in Slovakia constitute an increased level of risk which should be reflected in the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. Accordingly, this area of Slovakia in the Košice region affected by African swine fever should now be listed in Parts I and III of that Annex.

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, Poland and Slovakia 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: