THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market, and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU lays down animal health control measures in relation to African swine fever in certain Member States. The Annex to that Implementing Decision demarcates and lists certain areas of those Members States in Parts I, II, III and IV of that Annex differentiated by the level of risk based on the epidemiological situation. That list includes certain areas of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
(2)
In June and July 2016, further cases of African swine fever in wild boar populations occurred in the areas of Jekabpils County, Baldones County and Riga County in Latvia, further cases in wild boar populations occurred in the areas of Pärnu County, Harju County and in Rapla County in Estonia and a case in wild boar populations occurred in the area of Czyże in Poland. Those areas are listed in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU, in close proximity to the areas listed in Part II of that Annex. Accordingly, certain areas of Estonia, Latvia and Poland listed in Part I should now be listed in Part II and some new areas of Latvia should be listed in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.
(3)
In June and July 2016, further outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs occurred in Jõgeva County and Lääne-Viru County in Estonia, certain areas of Estonia currently listed in Part II should now be listed in Part III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.
(4)
In June and July 2016, further outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs occurred in the area of Elektrėnai, Anykšciu and Kruonio in Lithuania. Those areas are currently listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. Accordingly, in Lithuania certain areas listed in Part II should be listed in Part III of that Annex.
(5)
In June and July 2016, further outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs occurred in the area of Hajnówka in Poland, This area is currently listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. Accordingly, in Poland, the existing list in Part I of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should be expanded to the south and certain areas listed in Parts I and II should be listed in Part III of that Annex.
(6)
The evolution of the current epidemiological situation of African swine fever in the affected wild boar populations in the Union should be considered in the assessment of the animal health risk represented to the situation as regards that disease in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. In order to focus animal health control measures and to prevent the further spread of African swine fever, as well as to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, the Union list of areas subject to the animal health control measures set out in the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should be amended to take into account the changes in the current epidemiological situation as regards that disease in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
(7)
The Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.
(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: