Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/909 of 13 May 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Greece (notified under document C(2025) 3081)
Date: 2025-05-13
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: Central Macedonia, Greece, animal disease, goat, sheep, transport of animals, veterinary inspection, viral disease








L_202500909EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2025/909


16.5.2025







            COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2025/909
of 13 May 2025
         
amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Greece


(notified under document C(2025) 3081)


(Only the Greek 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 it 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.












(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. 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)


In order to address outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Greece, notified in August 2024, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 (4), which lays down certain emergency measures relating to that disease in Greece. In particular, it provides that the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones to be established by that Member State, 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 last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207, Greece has notified the Commission of five new outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox, which were reported between 28 April and 5 May 2025, in establishments where ovine and caprine animals were kept, in the regional units of Chalkidiki.












(6)


Therefore, the areas listed as protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones for Greece in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207, as well as the duration of the measures applicable therein, should be adjusted in order to prevent the further spread of the disease in Greece or to the rest of the Union. Accordingly, it is necessary to amend the list of restricted zones, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein, set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.












(7)


The size of the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein, is based on the criteria set out in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, as well as the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. The criteria applied for the choice of the size of the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones, as well as of the duration of the measures to be applied therein, include a consideration of not only the epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in the areas affected by that disease, but also of the overall epidemiological situation of sheep pox and goat pox in the entire territory of the Member State concerned by that disease, as well as the level of risk for the further spread of the disease. The chosen duration of the measures has also taken into account the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (5). In the current epidemiological situation, there is a high risk of the further spread of the disease. The disease has been confirmed in the regional unit of Chalkidiki, outside the limits of the currently established restricted zones in Greece suggesting that the disease continues to circulate despite the measures already put in place in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.












(8)


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

Amendments to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207

Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 is amended as follows:


                  ‘The Annex is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.’
               



Article 2

Addressee

This Decision is addressed to the Hellenic Republic.




Done at Brussels, 13 May 2025.


For the Commission

Olivér VÁRHELYI
            

Member of the Commission






(1)  
            OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj.

(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, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2020/687/oj).

(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, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2018/1882/oj).

(4)  Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 of 29 August 2024 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Greece (OJ L 2024/2207, 30.8.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/2207/oj).

(5)  
            https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/terrestrial-code-online-access/.




ANNEX
A.   Protection and surveillance zones established around the confirmed outbreaks








Regional unit and ADIS reference number of the outbreaks


Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the restricted zone in Greece referred to in Article 2


Date until applicable





Regional unit of Phocis

GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00058
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00059
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00060
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00061


Protection zone:
Those parts of the regional unit of Phocis contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 38.39722222, Long. 21.88472222 (2025/00058), Lat. 38.37944444, Long. 21.88916667 (2025/59), Lat. 38.39194444, Long. 21.88555556 (2025/60), Lat. 38.37861111, Long. 21.87972222 (2025/61)


19.5.2025




Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the regional unit of Phocis contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 38.39722222, Long. 21.88472222 (2025/00058), Lat. 38.37944444, Long. 21.88916667 (2025/59), Lat. 38.39194444, Long. 21.88555556 (2025/60), Lat. 38.37861111, Long. 2 1.87972222 (2025/61) excluding the areas contained in any protection zone


28.5.2025




Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the regional unit of Phocis contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 38.39722222, Long. 21.88472222 (2025/00058), Lat. 38.37944444, Long. 21.88916667 (2025/59), Lat. 38.39194444, Long. 21.88555556 (2025/60), Lat. 38.37861111, Long. 2 1.87972222 (2025/61)


20.5.2025 – 28.5.2025





Regional unit of Evros


Municipality of Samothrace

GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00057


Protection zone:
Those parts of the Municipality of Samothrace contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 40.478972, Long. 25.664547 (2025/57)


16.5.2025




Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the Municipality of Samothrace contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 40.478972, Long. 25.664547 (2025/57) excluding the areas contained in any protection zone


25.5.2025




Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the Municipality of Samothrace contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 40.478972, Long. 25.664547 (2025/57) excluding the areas contained in any protection zone


17.5.2025 – 25.5.2025





Regional unit of Aetolia-Acarnania

GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00045
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00053
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00055
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00056


Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the regional units of Aetolia-Acarnania and Phocis contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 38.391486, Long. 21.854056 (2025/00045), Lat. 38.39565278, Long. 21.85270278 (2025/53), Lat. 38.40945556, Long. 21.85508889 (2025/55), Lat. 38.42558056, Long. 21.84985 (2025/56) excluding the areas contained in any protection zone


17.5.2025




Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the regional units of Aetolia-Acarnania and Phocis contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 38.391486, Long. 21.854056 (2025/00045), Lat. 38.39565278, Long. 21.85270278 (2025/53), Lat. 38.40945556, Long. 21.85508889 (2025/55) Lat. 38.42558056, Long. 21.84985 (2025/56)


9.5.2025 – 17.5.2025





Regional unit of Larisa

GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00054


Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the regional unit of Larisa and Pieria contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 39.9135346, Long. 22.61496985 (2025/00054) excluding the areas contained in any protection zone


17.5.2025




Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the regional unit of Larisa and Pieria contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 39.9135346, Long. 22.61496985 (2025/00054)


9.5.2025 – 17.5.2025





Regional unit of Chalkidiki

GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00062
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00063 GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00064
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00065
GR-CAPRIPOX-2025-00066


Protection zone:
Those parts of the regional unit of Chalkidiki contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 40.124539, Long. 23.378264 (2025/00062) Lat. 40.130724. Long.23.344954 (2025/00063), Lat. 40.1153. Long. 23.33861 (2025/00064), Lat. 40.121511, Long. 23.347854 (2025/00065), Lat. 40.125054, Long.23.397489(2025/00066)


25.5.2025




Surveillance zone:
The whole municipality of Kassandra excluding the areas contained in any protection zone


3.6.2025




Surveillance zone:
The whole municipality of Kassandra


26.5.2025 – 3.6.2025




B.   Further restricted zones









Further restricted zone


Regional unit


Areas included in the further restricted zones established in Greece as referred to in Article 2


Date until applicable





Further restricted zone No 1




Regional unit of Evros



The regional unit of Evros excluding the municipality of Samothrace


8.5.2025 – 6.6.2025





Further restricted zone No 2




Regional unit of Rhodopi



The regional unit of Rhodopi


8.5.2025 – 6.6.2025





Further restricted zone No 3




Regional unit of Kavala



The regional unit of Kavala including the municipality of Thasos


6.6.2025





Regional unit of Drama



The municipality of Doxato


6.6.2025





Regional unit of Xanthi



The regional unit of Xanthi


8.5.2025 – 6.6.2025





Further restricted zone No 4




Regional unit of Chalkidiki



The municipalities of Aristotelis, and Polygyros.


14.4.2025 –3.7.2025





Further restricted zone No 4 A




Regional unit of Chalkidiki



The whole municipality of Nea Propontida


3.6.2025




The whole municipality of Kassandra and Nea Propontida


4.6.2025-3.7.2025





Further restricted zone No 8




Regional unit of Magnesia



The regional unit of Magnesia, excluding the Sporades islands


28.4.2025 – 27.5.2025





Regional unit of Phthiotis



The municipality of Stylida


28.4.2025 – 27.5.2025





Further restricted zone No 9




Regional unit of Phocis



The municipality of Dorida excluding the areas included in any protection or surveillance zone


28.5.2025




The municipality of Dorida


29.5.2025 – 27.6.2025





Regional unit of Aetolia-Acarnania



The municipalities of Nafpaktia and Messolonghi, excluding the areas included in any protection or surveillance zone


17.5.2025




The municipalities of Nafpaktia Messolonghi


18.5.2025 – 27.6.2025





Further restricted zone No 9A




Regional unit of Aetolia-Acarnania



The municipalities of Agrinio Thermo, Agrinio, Xiromero, Thermo


16.6.2025





Further restricted zone no 16




Municipality of Samothrace in the regional unit of Evros



Municipality of Samothrace, excluding the areas included in any protection or surveillance zone.


25.5.2025




The municipality of Samothrace


26.5.2025-24.6.2025





Further restricted zone no 18




Regional unit of Thessaloniki



The municipalities of Volvi and Lagkadas.


14.4.2025 – 13.5.2025





Further restricted zone no 19




Regional unit of Larisa



The municipalities of Agia and Tempi excluding the areas included in any protection or surveillance zone


17.5.2025





Regional unit of Larisa



The municipalities of Agia and Tempi


18.5.2025 – 16.6.2025





Regional unit of Pieria



The municipality of Dion-Olympos excluding the areas included in any protection or surveillance zone


17.5.2025





Regional unit of Pieria



The municipality of Dion-Olympos


18.5.2025 – 16.6.2025







ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/909/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)