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, amongst others, certain areas of Lithuania.
(2)
Since November 2016, no outbreaks of African swine fever in domestic pigs have been notified in certain areas of Lithuania which are listed in Part III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. In addition, supervision of biosecurity measures has been implemented in a satisfactory manner in holdings in those areas based on the national programme for biosecurity aimed at the prevention of the spread of African swine fever. These facts indicate an improvement in the epidemiological situation. Accordingly, those areas of Lithuania should now be listed in Part II, instead of Part 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 domestic and feral pig populations in the Union should be taken into account in the assessment of the animal health risk posed by that situation as regards that disease in Lithuania. 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, while preventing any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and avoiding 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 Lithuania.
(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: