# L_2023238EN.01014301.xml

| 27.9.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 238/143 |
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27.9.2023

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 238/143

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COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2023/2067

of 26 September 2023

concerning certain interim emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria

(notified under document C(2023) 6575)

(Only the Bulgarian text is authentic)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

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

Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (1), and in particular Article 259(2) thereof,

Whereas:

| (1) | Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease affecting caprine and ovine animals and can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming causing disturbance to movements of consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries. |
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(1)

Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease affecting caprine and ovine animals and can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming causing disturbance to movements of consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries.

| (2) | In the event of an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of caprine or ovine animals. |
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(2)

In the event of an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of caprine or ovine animals.

| (3) | Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (2) supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (3). In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including sheep pox and goat pox, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones. |
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(3)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (2) supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (3). In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including sheep pox and goat pox, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

| (4) | Bulgaria has informed the Commission of the current sheep pox and goat pox situation on its territory, following an outbreak of that disease in caprine and ovine animals in the region of Burgas, which was confirmed on 16 September 2023, and, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, it has established a restricted zone, which comprises protection and surveillance zones, where the general disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are applied, as well as a further restricted zone where certain control measures are also applied in order to prevent the further spread of that disease. |
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(4)

Bulgaria has informed the Commission of the current sheep pox and goat pox situation on its territory, following an outbreak of that disease in caprine and ovine animals in the region of Burgas, which was confirmed on 16 September 2023, and, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, it has established a restricted zone, which comprises protection and surveillance zones, where the general disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are applied, as well as a further restricted zone where certain control measures are also applied in order to prevent the further spread of that disease.

| (5) | In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly identify at Union level the restricted zone for sheep pox and goat pox, which comprises the protection and surveillance zones, as well as the further restricted zone, in Bulgaria in collaboration with that Member State. |
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(5)

In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly identify at Union level the restricted zone for sheep pox and goat pox, which comprises the protection and surveillance zones, as well as the further restricted zone, in Bulgaria in collaboration with that Member State.

| (6) | Accordingly, the areas identified as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Bulgaria should be set out in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that regionalisation fixed. |
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(6)

Accordingly, the areas identified as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Bulgaria should be set out in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that regionalisation fixed.

| (7) | Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of sheep pox and goat pox and the need to prevent the disease spreading from the affected establishment in Bulgaria to other parts of that Member State or to other Member States, it is appropriate that the measures laid down in this Implementing Decision apply as soon as possible. |
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(7)

Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of sheep pox and goat pox and the need to prevent the disease spreading from the affected establishment in Bulgaria to other parts of that Member State or to other Member States, it is appropriate that the measures laid down in this Implementing Decision apply as soon as possible.

| (8) | Accordingly, pending the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Bulgaria should be established immediately and listed in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that zoning fixed. |
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(8)

Accordingly, pending the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Bulgaria should be established immediately and listed in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that zoning fixed.

| (9) | This Decision is to be reviewed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, |
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(9)

This Decision is to be reviewed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Bulgaria shall ensure that:

| (a) | restricted zones, which comprise protection and surveillance zones as well as a further restricted zone, are established immediately by the competent authority of that Member State in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and under the conditions laid down in that Article; |
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(a)

restricted zones, which comprise protection and surveillance zones as well as a further restricted zone, are established immediately by the competent authority of that Member State in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and under the conditions laid down in that Article;

| (b) | the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones referred to in point (a) comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision; |
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(b)

the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones referred to in point (a) comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision;

| (c) | the measures in each restricted zone apply at least until the dates listed in the Annex to this Decision. |
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(c)

the measures in each restricted zone apply at least until the dates listed in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2

1.   Movements of sheep and goats from the further restricted zone to a destination outside that further restricted zone shall only be permitted if they are authorised by the competent authority and they comply with the conditions laid down in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4.

2.   Movements of sheep and goats kept in the further restricted zone to a destination outside that further restricted zone may be authorised by the competent authority where such movements of sheep and goats are directly to a slaughterhouse located within the territory of Bulgaria for immediate slaughter.

3.   The means of transport used for the movements of sheep and goats from the further restricted zone, referred to in paragraph 2, shall:

| (a) | comply with the requirements for the means of transport laid down in Article 24(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687; |
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(a)

comply with the requirements for the means of transport laid down in Article 24(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687;

| (b) | be cleaned and disinfected before any transport of animals under the control or supervision of the competent authority; |
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(b)

be cleaned and disinfected before any transport of animals under the control or supervision of the competent authority;

| (c) | be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the requirements for the means of transport laid down in Article 24(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 under the control or supervision of the competent authority; |
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(c)

be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the requirements for the means of transport laid down in Article 24(2) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 under the control or supervision of the competent authority;

| (d) | only include sheep and goats of the same health status kept in the same establishment; |
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(d)

only include sheep and goats of the same health status kept in the same establishment;

| (e) | be sealed by the competent authority at the establishment of origin after the loading of the animals and unsealed by the competent authority at the slaughterhouse of destination. |
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(e)

be sealed by the competent authority at the establishment of origin after the loading of the animals and unsealed by the competent authority at the slaughterhouse of destination.

4.   The sheep and goats due for transport shall be subject to clinical inspection by the competent authority 24 hours or less before the date of transport.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply until 31 December 2023.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Bulgaria.

Done at Brussels, 26 September 2023.

For the Commission

Stella KYRIAKIDES

Member of the Commission

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(1)  
  OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1.

1

(2)  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases (OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 64).

2

(3)  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 of 3 December 2018 on the application of certain disease prevention and control rules to categories of listed diseases and establishing a list of species and groups of species posing a considerable risk for the spread of those listed diseases (OJ L 308, 4.12.2018, p. 21).

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ANNEX

A.   Protection and surveillance zones established around confirmed outbreaks

| Region and ADIS reference number of the outbreak | Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the restricted zones in Bulgaria referred to in Article 1 | Date until applicable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Region of Burgas


  BG-CAPRIPOX-2023-00001 | Protection zone:

  Those parts of the region of Burgas, contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.1137, Long. 27.1012 (2023/1) | 10.10.2023 |
| Surveillance zone:

  Those parts of the region of Burgas, contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.1137, Long. 27.1012 (2023/1) | 19.10.2023 |
| Surveillance zone:

  Those parts of the region of Burgas, contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.1137, Long. 27.1012 (2023/1) | 11.10.2023 – 19.10.2023 |

Region and ADIS reference number of the outbreak

Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the restricted zones in Bulgaria referred to in Article 1

Date until applicable

Region of Burgas

BG-CAPRIPOX-2023-00001

Protection zone:

Those parts of the region of Burgas, contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.1137, Long. 27.1012 (2023/1)

10.10.2023

Surveillance zone:

Those parts of the region of Burgas, contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.1137, Long. 27.1012 (2023/1)

19.10.2023

Surveillance zone:

Those parts of the region of Burgas, contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.1137, Long. 27.1012 (2023/1)

11.10.2023 – 19.10.2023

B.   Further restricted zone

| Region | Areas established as further restricted zone in Bulgaria as referred to in Article 1 | Date until applicable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Regions of Burgas, Haskovo and Yambol | A further restricted zone that comprises the following areas.
  In the region of Burgas the municipalities of:






  — | Malko Tarnovo |

Region

Areas established as further restricted zone in Bulgaria as referred to in Article 1

Date until applicable

Regions of Burgas, Haskovo and Yambol

A further restricted zone that comprises the following areas.

In the region of Burgas the municipalities of:

—

Malko Tarnovo

| — | Sredets |
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—

Sredets

| — | Tsarevo |
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—

Tsarevo

In the region of Haskovo the municipalities of:

| — | Svilengrad |
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—

Svilengrad

| — | Topolovgrad |
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—

Topolovgrad

In the region of Yambol the municipalities of:

| — | Bolyarovo |
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—

Bolyarovo

| — | Elhovo |
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—

Elhovo

30.11.2023

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