Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 provides that the protection and surveillance zones established by the competent authorities of 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) 2017/247 also lays down that the measures to be applied in the protection and surveillance zones, as provided for in Article 29(1) and Article 31 of Directive 2005/94/EC, are to be maintained until at least the dates for those zones set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

In addition, the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 has been amended numerous times, mainly to take account of changes in the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones established by the concerned Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC.

Since the date of the last amendment made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/490, Bulgaria has notified the Commission of new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 in the regions of Lovech and Plovdiv of that Member State.

Bulgaria has also notified the Commission that it has taken the necessary measures required in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC following the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the regions of Lovech and Plovdiv, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the infected poultry holdings in that Member State.

The Commission has examined those measures in collaboration with Bulgaria, and the Commission is satisfied that the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones, established by the competent authority of Bulgaria, are at a sufficient distance to the poultry holdings where the recent outbreaks have been confirmed.

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, the protection and surveillance zones established in Bulgaria, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in that Member State.

Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should therefore be updated to take account of the up-to-date epidemiological situation in Bulgaria, as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza. In particular, the newly established protection and surveillance zones in Bulgaria, now subject to movement restrictions in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, should be listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247.

The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should be amended to update regionalisation at Union level in order to include the protection and surveillance zones established in Bulgaria, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in that Member State, and the duration of the restrictions applicable therein.

Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,