(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. In particular, Chapters 3 and 4 of Part II of that Regulation lay down rules on eradication programmes and diseasefree status. 

(2) In addition, Article 4, point (18), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 defines ‘listed diseases’, and 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 (serotypes 1-24) (infection with BTV). 

(3) Moreover, 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), points (a) to (e), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. Infection with BTV was categorised as a 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. 

(4) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and supplements the rules on eradication programmes and disease freedom for certain listed diseases, laid down in that Regulation. One of the disease-specific rules to prevent and control infection with BTV is the implementation of optional eradication programmes. The provisions for optional eradication programmes for infection with BTV are laid down in Section 4 of Chapter 2 of Part II of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 and in Part II of Annex V thereto. Moreover, the provisions on granting and maintaining disease-free status as regards infection with BTV free are laid down in Chapter 4 of Part II of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689. 

(5) Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882, as recently amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/169 re-categorises infection with BTV as a category D +E disease. Such re-categorisation means that the rules for BTV optional eradication programmes and disease-free status laid down in Article 2, Article 12, Articles 37 to 45, Article 66, Article 70, Article 72, Article 81 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 and Part II of Annex V thereto are no longer relevant, as they only apply to category C diseases. Therefore, those rules should be deleted from those provisions of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689. 

(6) Therefore, 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. 

(7) Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 should, therefore, be amended accordingly,