L 8/188
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
13.1.2022
Whereas:
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (‘HPAI’) is an infectious viral disease in birds and may have a severe impact on the profitability of poultry farming causing disturbance to trade within the European Economic Area (‘EEA’).
HPAI viruses can infect migratory birds, which can then spread these viruses over long distances during their autumn and spring migrations.
Therefore, the presence of HPAI viruses in wild birds poses a continuous threat for the direct and indirect introduction of these viruses into holdings where poultry or captive birds are kept.
In the event of an outbreak of HPAI, there is a risk that the disease agent may spread to other holdings where poultry or captive birds are kept.
Regulation (EU) 2016/429, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 have been incorporated into the Annexes to the EEA Agreement and have applied from 21 April 2021.
Regulation (EU) 2016/429 establishes a new legislative framework for the prevention and control of diseases transmissible to animals or humans.
HPAI is referred to in Article 9(1)(a)(i) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as a listed disease subject to the disease prevention and control rules laid down therein.
The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 lists HPAI as a category A, D and E disease as defined in Article 1 of that Regulation.
Article 259(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 requires the EFTA Surveillance Authority (‘the Authority’) to review emergency measures taken by the Norwegian competent authorities pursuant to Article 257(1)(a) or 258 of the same Regulation in the event of an outbreak of a listed disease referred to in point (a) of Article 9(1), including HPAI (‘Norwegian measures’).
Article 259(1)(c) requires the Authority, where it considers it necessary to avoid unjustified disruptions in the movement of animals and products, to adopt emergency measures referred to in Article 257(1) approving Norwegian measures.
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 supplements the rules for the control of category A, B and C diseases laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/429, including disease control measures for HPAI.
Article 21 of that Regulation provides for the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including HPAI.
This regionalisation is applied in particular to preserve the health status of birds in the remainder of the territory of Norway by preventing the introduction of the pathogenic agent and ensuring the early detection of the disease.
Norway notified an outbreak of HPAI in a flock of laying hens on its territory on 12 November 2021 (‘the first outbreak’).
(4) The Norwegian competent authorities have taken the necessary disease control measures required in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around this outbreak.
On 18 November 2021, Norway notified a second outbreak (5) of HPAI at a holding of laying hens situated within the zones already established around the first outbreak.
The Norwegian competent authorities have taken the necessary disease control measures required in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, including adjustment of the protection and surveillance zones established around the first outbreak to include the minimum three kilometers protection zone and ten kilometers surveillance zone radius around the holding where the second outbreak occurred.
In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the EEA, it is necessary to rapidly describe the protection and surveillance zones established by Norway in relation to outbreaks of HPAI.
Accordingly, the protection and surveillance zones relating to HPAI in Norway, where the disease control measures as laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are applied, are listed in the Annex to this Decision approving the Norwegian measures pursuant to Article 259(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and the duration of that regionalisation specified in that Annex.
(4) Document No 1248890.
(5) Document No 1249847.