Foot-and-mouth disease is one of the most contagious diseases of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The virus causing the disease has the potential for rapid spread, notably through products obtained from infected animals and contaminated objects including means of transport like livestock vehicles or vessels. The virus can also persist in a contaminated environment outside the host animal for several weeks depending on the temperature. Accordingly, veterinary checks should be carried out on means of transport upon their return to the Union from certain third countries after such transport, in order to reduce the risk of the introduction of the foot-and-mouth disease virus into the Union.

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/6753, as amended by Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2017/8874, (EU) 2018/4895 and (EU) 2019/2426, was adopted following outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia and established protection measures at Union level which took into account the survival of the foot-and-mouth disease virus in the environment and potential transmission routes of that virus. Those measures provided for appropriate cleansing and disinfection of livestock vehicles and vessels from those third countries entering the Union territory either directly or after transiting through other third countries, as this is the most appropriate way to reduce the risk of rapid virus transmission over large distances. However, Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/675 expired on 31 December 2019.

The latest outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the third countries referred to in Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/675 were notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) by Algeria in June 2019 and by Libya in March 2020. However, despite the absence of notified outbreaks in the other third countries referred to in that Implementing Decision, the circulation of the foot-and-mouth disease virus in their territory cannot be excluded, as scheduled serosurveillance has not been completed.

Algeria, Egypt, Israel7, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine8, Syria, Tunisia and the Anatolian part of Turkey are not free of foot-and-mouth disease, and possible virus circulation in this area constitutes a non-negligible risk to the susceptible livestock population of the Union.

The Member States export a significant number of consignments of live animals to those third countries. Livestock vehicles and vessels used for the transport of these animals may be contaminated with the foot-and-mouth disease virus and therefore constitute a risk for the introduction of that disease upon their return to the Union.

Cleansing and disinfection of livestock vehicles and vessels has been shown to be the most appropriate way to reduce the risk of virus transmission over large distances.

It is therefore necessary to ensure that all livestock vehicles and vessels returning from those third countries to the Union are appropriately cleansed and disinfected. The operator or driver should submit an appropriate documented declaration of such cleansing and disinfection to the competent authority at the point of entry into the Union.

Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council9 lays down the animal health conditions applicable to the non-commercial movement of pet animals. However, as non-commercial movement of pet animals pose a low-risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease, they should be excluded from the scope of this Decision.

Member States should also have the possibility to subject vehicles which transport feed from or have transported feed to the third countries not free from foot-and-mouth disease, and for which a significant risk of the introduction of the disease into the territory of the Union cannot be excluded, to on-the-spot cleaning and disinfection of the wheels or any other part of the vehicle deemed necessary to mitigate that risk.

Considering the foot-and-mouth disease situation in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and the Anatolian part of Turkey, it is appropriate to lay down measures in this Decision to prevent the introduction of the foot-and-mouth disease virus into the Union.

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council10 lays down rules on certain listed diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease. That Regulation applies from 21 April 2021. Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council11 repealed Directives 91/496/EEC and 97/78/EC, but Article 164(2) thereof provides that Article 18(6) of Directive 91/496/EEC and Article 22(6) of Directive 97/78/EC are to continue to apply in relation to the matters governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/429, until the date of application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. Accordingly, the rules laid down in this Decision should apply until 20 April 2021.

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