http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eudn/2017/14

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/14

of 5 January 2017

amending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 on protective measures in relation to outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in certain Member States

(notified under document C(2017) 55)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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 market1, 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 market2, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/21223 was adopted following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in holdings in a number of Member States (‘the concerned Member States’) and the establishment of protection and surveillance zones by the competent authority of the concerned Member States in accordance with Council Directive 2005/94/EC4.

(2)

Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 provides that the protection and surveillance zones established by the concerned Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC are to comprise at least the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 also provides that the measures to be applied in those protection and surveillance zones are to be maintained until at least the dates specified the Annex thereto. Those dates take account of the required duration of the measures to be applied in protection and surveillance zones in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC.

(3)

Following further outbreaks of avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in the Union, namely in Bulgaria, Germany, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom, the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 was amended by Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2016/22195, (EU) 2016/22796 and (EU) 2016/23677 in order to amend the areas listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 to take account of developments in the epidemiological situation in the Union and the establishment of new protection and surveillance zones by the competent authorities of those Member States, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC.

(4)

Since the date of the amendments made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2367, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland have notified the Commission of further outbreaks of avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in holdings outside the areas currently listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 where poultry or other captive birds are kept and they have taken the necessary measures required in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around those outbreaks.

(5)

In addition, Croatia, Romania and Slovakia have now notified the Commission of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in holdings on their territory where poultry or other captive birds are kept and they have also taken the necessary measures required in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around those outbreaks. Those three Member States are not currently listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122.

(6)

Furthermore, the Netherlands and Austria have established the surveillance zones in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC in relation to outbreaks confirmed in Slovakia and Germany.

(7)

In all cases, the Commission has examined the measures taken by Bulgaria, Germany, France, Croatia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania and Slovakia in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC and has satisfied itself that the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones, established by the competent authorities of those Member States, are at a sufficient distance to any holding where an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 has been confirmed.

(8)

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 Bulgaria, Germany, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria and Poland, changes made to the protection and surveillance zones established in those Member States, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, to take account of developments in the epidemiological situation. Therefore, the areas currently listed for those Member States in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 should be amended.

(9)

In addition, it is also necessary to rapidly describe at Union level, in collaboration with Croatia, Romania and Slovakia, the protection and surveillance zones established in those Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC. The Annex to to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 should therefore be further amended in order to include the areas established in Croatia, Romania and Slovakia as protection and surveillance zones in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC.

(10)

Accordingly, the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 should be amended to update regionalisation at Union level to include changes to the protection and surveillance zones and the duration of the restrictions applicable therein.

(11)

Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/2122 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(12)

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: