Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2112 of 16 December 2020 amending the Annexes to Decisions 93/455/EEC, 1999/246/EC and 2007/24/EC as regards the approval of the contingency plans of the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland for the control of foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever, avian influenza and Newcastle disease (notified under document C(2020) 9307) (Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/66/EEC of 14 July 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of Newcastle disease^f1, and in particular Article 21(3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2001/89/EC of 23 October 2001 on Community measures for the control of classical swine fever^f2, and in particular Article 22(3) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2003/85/EC of 29 September 2003 on Community measures for the control of foot-and-mouth disease repealing Directive 85/511/EEC and Decisions 89/531/EEC and 91/665/EEC and amending Directive 92/46/EEC^f3, and in particular Article 72(7) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC^f4, and in particular Article 62(4) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Decision 93/455/EEC^f5 approves the contingency plans for the control of foot-and-mouth disease for the Member States listed in the Annex thereto.

Commission Decision 1999/246/EC^f6 approves the contingency plans for the control of classical swine fever for the Member States listed in the Annex thereto.

The Annex to Commission Decision 2007/24/EC^f7 sets out the list of Member States having approved contingency plans for the control of avian influenza and Newcastle disease.

In accordance with the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Withdrawal Agreement), and in particular Article 5(4) of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in conjunction with Annex 2 to that Protocol, Directives 92/66/EEC, 2001/89/EC, 2003/85/EC and 2005/94/EC, as well as the Commission acts based on them, apply to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement. For that reason, references to the United Kingdom in the Annexes to Decisions 93/455/EEC, 1999/246/EC and 2007/24/EC should be replaced by references to the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland.

The Annexes to Decisions 93/455/EEC, 1999/246/EC and 2007/24/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

As the transition period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement ends on 31 December 2020, this Decision should apply from 1 January 2021.

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: