6.3.2023
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
L 68/5
(7)
Additionally, the United States has notified the Commission of ten outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in the states of California (1), Kansas (1), New York (1), Mississippi (2) and Pennsylvania (5), United States, which were confirmed between 1 February 2023 and 22 February 2023 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).
(8)
Following those recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the veterinary authorities of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States established control zones of at least 10 km around the affected establishments and implemented a stamping-out policy in order to control the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza and limit the spread of that disease.
(9)
Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have submitted information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on their territory and the measures they have taken to prevent the further spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
That information has been evaluated by the Commission.
On the basis of that evaluation and in order to protect the animal health status of the Union, the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds from the areas under restrictions established by the veterinary authorities of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States due to the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza should no longer be authorised.
(10)
Furthermore, Canada has submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to 15 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry establishments in the provinces of Alberta (3), British Columbia (2), Ontario (4), Quebec (3) and Saskatchewan (3), Canada which were confirmed between 19 September 2022 and 6 December 2022.
(11)
In addition, the United Kingdom has submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to six outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry establishments on Orkney Islands (2) and East Ayrshire (1) in Scotland, United Kingdom, and in counties of Cheshire (1) and Yorkshire (2), England, United Kingdom which were confirmed between 28 August 2022 and 8 November 2022.
(12)
Moreover, the United States has submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to 77 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry establishments in the states of Arkansas (1), California (7), Colorado (1), Iowa (2), Minnesota (16), Mississippi (1), Nebraska (1), New York (1), North Dakota (4), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (3), South Dakota (15), Tennessee (1), Utah (16), Washington (3) and Wisconsin (4), United States, which were confirmed between 29 March 2022 and 8 December 2022.
(13)
Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have also submitted information on the measures they have taken to prevent the further spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
In particular, following those outbreaks of that disease, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease, and they have also completed the requisite cleaning and disinfection following the implementation of the stamping out policy on the infected poultry establishments on their territories.
(14)
The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States and concluded that the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry establishments have been cleared and that there is no longer a risk associated with the entry into the Union of poultry commodities from the zones of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States from which the entry into the Union of poultry commodities was suspended following those outbreaks.
(15)
Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be therefore amended to take account of the current epidemiological situation as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada, the United Kingdom and in the United States.
(16)
Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza and the serious risk of its introduction into the Union, the amendments to be made to Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.