Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2107
of 14 December 2020
amending Decision 2007/25/EC as regards its period of application
(notified under document C(2020) 8789)
(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on the non-commercial movement of pet animals and repealing Regulation (EC) No 998/2003, and in particular Article 36(1) thereof,
OJ L 178, 28.6.2013, p. 1.
Whereas:
(1) Commission Decision 2007/25/EC lays down certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and movements of pet birds accompanying their owners into the Union. It was adopted in response to outbreaks of HPAI of subtype H5N1, with a view to protecting animal and human health in the Union and it applies until 31 December 2020.
Commission Decision 2007/25/EC of 22 December 2006 as regards certain protection measures in relation to highly pathogenic avian influenza and movements of pet birds accompanying their owners into the Community (OJ L 8, 13.1.2007, p. 29).
(2) Outbreaks of HPAI of different subtypes of H5 and more rarely of H7 viruses continue to occur worldwide in poultry and other captive birds. HPAI has become endemic in several third countries and has reached other third countries for the first time. The threat of the introduction of the HPAI virus into the Union via non-commercial movements of pet birds from third countries persists and therefore the risk mitigation measures laid down in Decision 2007/25/EC should be maintained.
(3) A delegated act and an implementing act laying down animal health and certification requirements for the non-commercial movement of pet birds into the Union have been prepared under Regulation (EU) No 576/2013. However, certain provisions of those acts are still under discussions and, therefore, those two acts, which are intended to replace on a permanent basis the protection measures currently laid down in Decision 2007/25/EC, will not be adopted before 31 December 2020, namely the date of expiry of Decision 2007/25/EC.
(4) Accordingly, in view of the global epidemiological situation as regards HPAI it is necessary to prolong the period of application of Decision 2007/25/EC until 31 December 2021, by which time the delegated act and implementing act, which lay down the requirements intended to replace those currently laid in Decision 2007/25/EC, should be adopted.
(5) Decision 2007/25/EC 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:

Article 1 In Article 6 of Decision 2007/25/EC, the date ‘31 December 2020’ is replaced by ‘31 December 2021’.
Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 14 December 2020.
For the Commission
Stella Kyriakides
Member of the Commission