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 thereof differentiated by the level of risk based on the epidemiological situation. That list includes certain areas of Estonia.
(2)
In August 2016, one outbreak of African swine fever in domestic pigs and one case in a feral pig occurred in the Saare County in Estonia in an area currently not listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. The occurrence of this outbreak and the case in feral pigs constitute an increase in the level of risk that needs to be taken into account. Accordingly, certain areas of Estonia should now be listed in Parts I, II and III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.
(3)
The evolution of the current epidemiological situation of African swine fever in the affected feral pig populations in the Union should be taken into account in the assessment of the animal health risk posed by to that situation as regards that disease in Estonia. In order to focus the animal health control measures provided for in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU 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 that Implementing Decision should be amended to take into account the changes in the current epidemiological situation as regards that disease in Estonia.
(4)
The Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5)
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: