14.3.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 85/43
(5)
The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/641 was recently amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/349 (4) following outbreaks of HPAI in poultry or captive birds in Czechia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal that needed to be reflected in that Annex.
(6)
Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/349, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal, have notified the Commission of further outbreaks of HPAI in establishments where poultry or captive birds were kept, located within or outside the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.
(7)
The competent authorities of Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal, 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 those outbreaks.
(8)
In addition, the competent authority of France decided to establish a further restricted zone around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones in certain areas at increased risk for the spread of HPAI in the Department Gers of that Member State.
(9)
The Commission has examined the disease control measures taken by Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal in collaboration with those Member States and it is satisfied that the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones in Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal and of the further restricted zone in France, established by the competent authorities of those Member States are at a sufficient distance from the establishments where the recent outbreaks of HPAI have been confirmed.
(10)
In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly describe at Union level, in collaboration with Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal, the protection and surveillance zones established by those Member States and the further restricted zone established by France, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.
(11)
Therefore, the areas listed for Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/641 should be amended.
(12)
In addition, a further restricted zone should be listed for France in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/641.
(13)
Accordingly, the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/641 should be amended to update regionalisation at Union level to take account of the protection and surveillance zones duly established by Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal, and of the further restricted zone duly established by France, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and the duration of the measures applicable therein.
(14)
Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/641 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(15)
Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of HPAI, it is important that the amendments to be made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/641 by this Decision take effect as soon as possible.
(16)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/349 of 28 February 2022 amending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/641 concerning emergency measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L 64, 2.3.2022, p. 60).