(fra kommisjonsforordningen)

(1) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down rules for the prevention and control of animal diseases that are transmissible to animals or to humans, including rules on ‘listed diseases’, defined in Article 4, point (18), of that Regulation. In particular, Title II of Part III of Regulation 2016/429 lays down rules on disease control measures, including rules for the prioritisation and categorisation of listed diseases. In addition, Article 5 of that Regulation provides that disease-specific rules are to apply for the prevention and control of listed diseases, including infection with bluetongue virus (serotype 1-24) (infection with BTV). 

(2) In addition, Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down disease prevention and control rules to be applied to different categories of listed diseases. Pursuant to Article 9(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 categorises each listed disease as a category A, B, C, D or E disease, which is subject to the corresponding disease-specific rules referred to in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. Infection with BTV was categorised as a category C+D+E disease, as set out in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882. Consequently, it was subject to the disease-specific rules referred to in Article 9(1), points (c), (d) and (e), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. 

(3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and supplements the rules on disease awareness, preparedness and control to be applied with regard to the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. In particular, Articles 68 and 69 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 lay down rules on the preliminary disease control measures to be applied when a category B or C disease is suspected by the competent authority in Member States or zones that have been granted disease-free status, and the disease control measures to be applied when a category B or C is confirmed. Both of those Articles refer to infection with BTV. 

(4) The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882, as recently amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/169, re-categorised infection with BTV as a category D+E disease, instead of as a category C+D+E disease. As a consequence of such re-categorisation, the rules, laid down in Articles 68 point (c) and 69 point (c) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, relating to infection with BTV, including the disease control measures in the case of the suspicion or the confirmation of an outbreak of infection with BTV in a disease-free zone are no longer relevant, as they only apply to a category C disease. Therefore, the references to infection with BTV should be deleted from Articles 68, point (c), and 69, point (c) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 should, therefore, be amended accordingly. 

(5) As the amendments made to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/169 concerning the new categorisation of infection with BTV as a category D+E disease apply from 15 July 2026, this Regulation should also apply from that date. 

(6) Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 should, therefore, be amended accordingly,