COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2022/2004

of 18 October 2022

amending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1913 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Spain

(notified under document C(2022) 7509)

(Only the Spanish 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(1) 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. In the event of an outbreak of that disease in caprine and ovine animals, there is a serious risk that it may spread to other establishments keeping those animals.

(2) Sheep pox and goat pox is defined as a category A disease in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (2). In addition, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (3) supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1)(a), (b) and (c) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882. 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 disease control 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.

(3) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1913 (4) was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and it lays down emergency measures for Spain in relation to outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox.

(4) More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1913 provides that the protection and surveillance zones to be established by the Member State following outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(5) Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1913, Spain notified the Commission of seven further outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine and/or caprine animals were kept, located in the regions of Andalusia and Castilla – La Mancha.

(6) The competent authority of Spain has taken the necessary disease control measures required in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around those outbreaks.

(7) Therefore, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones for Spain in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1913 should be amended.

(8) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of sheep pox and goat pox, it is important that the measures laid down in this Implementing Decision apply as soon as possible.

(9) 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:

Article 1 The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1913 is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Spain.

Done at Brussels, 18 October 2022. For the Commission Stella KYRIAKIDES Member of the Commission

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

(2) 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).

(3) 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).

(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/1913 of 4 October 2022 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Spain (OJ L 261, 7.10.2022, p. 53).