THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 2002/60/EC of 27 June 2002 laying down specific provisions for the control of African swine fever and amending Directive 92/119/EEC as regards Teschen disease and African swine fever, and in particular Article 16 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Directive 2002/60/EC introduces the minimum Union measures for the control of African swine fever, including those to be applied in case of confirmation of the presence of African swine fever in feral pigs.
(2)
At the beginning of 2014 Lithuania and Poland confirmed the presence of African swine fever in feral pigs at the border with Belarus and they have adopted disease control measures as provided for in Directive 2002/60/EC. In order to establish appropriate control measures and to prevent disease spread, a Union list of high risk areas has been established in the Annex to Commission Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU. Parts I and II of that Annex list the areas in Lithuania and Poland where the eradication plans are to be implemented.
(3)
In the light of the epidemiological situation and in accordance with Directive 2002/60/EC Lithuania and Poland submitted to the Commission the plans for the eradication of African swine fever in the concerned areas of those Member States.
(4)
The plans submitted by Lithuania and Poland have been examined by the Commission and found to comply with Directive 2002/60/EC.
(5)
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: