Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/263
of 20 February 2018
amending Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU concerning animal health control measures relating to African swine fever in certain Member States
(notified under document C(2018) 889)
(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 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, where there have been confirmed cases of that disease in domestic or feral pigs (the concerned Member States). The Annex to that Implementing Decision demarcates and lists certain areas of the concerned Member States in Parts I to IV thereof, differentiated by the level of risk based on the epidemiological situation as regards that disease. The control measures laid down in that Implementing Decision are aimed at mitigating the risks of the spread of that disease.
(2)
African swine fever is a viral disease of domestic and feral pigs that can have serious socioeconomic consequences. Movements of infected animals, contaminated pig products and the illegal disposal of carcasses are the most significant means of spreading that disease. It is extremely important to avoid the diffusion of African swine fever related to human activity. Accordingly, in order to ensure that information on the animal health control measures laid down in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU, including restrictions on movements of pigs and pig products, are effectively brought to the attention of travellers, including travellers by road, Member States should ensure that passenger transport operators and postal services bring those animal health control measures to the attention of travellers moving from the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. These messages should be tailored to the level of risk of introduction of the disease. In addition, coordinated action by the competent authorities of the concerned Member States should ensure that information disseminated through specific public awareness campaigns is fit for purpose.
(3)
The risk of the spread of African swine fever in wildlife is linked to the natural slow spread of that disease among the wild boar populations, and also the risks linked to human activity, as demonstrated by the recent epidemiological evolution of that disease in the Union, and as documented by the European Food Safety Authority in the Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, published on 14 July 2015; in the Scientific Report Epidemiological analyses on African swine fever in the Baltic countries and Poland, published on 23 March 2017; and in the Scientific Report Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the Baltic States and Poland, published on 7 November 2017 . In order to take account of recent developments in the epidemiological evolution of African swine fever in the Union, and in order to combat the risks associated with the disease in a proactive manner, higher risk areas of a sufficient size should be demarcated for Poland and included in the lists in Part I and Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.
(4)
In addition, 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 at the same time preventing any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union, and also 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 updated to take account of the changes in the epidemiological situation as regards that disease in Poland.
(5)
The Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6)
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:
OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13.
OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 29.
OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.
Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU of 9 October 2014 concerning animal health control measures relating to African swine fever in certain Member States and repealing Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU (OJ L 295, 11.10.2014, p. 63).
EFSA Journal 2015;13(7):4163 [92 pp.]; EFSA Journal 2017;15(3):4732 [73 pp.] and EFSA Journal 2017;15(11): 5068 [30 pp.].