(fra kommisjonsforordningen)

(1) African swine fever is an infectious viral disease affecting kept and wild porcine animals and can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming causing disturbance to movements of consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and their exports to third countries.

(2) Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/687 (2) supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (3). In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for certain measures to be taken in the event of an official confirmation of an outbreak of category A disease in kept animals, including African swine fever in kept porcine animals. Notably, those provisions provide for the establishment of a restricted zone, which comprises protection and surveillance zones, and prohibitions on movements of kept animals of listed species and products of animal origin thereof.

(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 (4) lays down special disease control measures regarding African swine fever to be applied for a limited period of time by the Member States which are listed, or which have areas listed, in Annexes I and II thereto (the Member States concerned). That Implementing Regulation lays down rules on the listing at Union level in Annex I thereto of restricted zones I, II and III following outbreaks of African swine fever, and rules on the listing at Union level in Annex II thereto, following an outbreak of that disease in a previously disease-free Member State or zone.

(4) Also, in the case of an outbreak of African swine fever in kept porcine animals in a Member State, Article 3, point (a), of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 provides for the establishment of an establishment of a restricted zone by the competent authority of that Member State, in accordance with Article 21(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(5) Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 was last amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3245 (5) following changes in the epidemiological situation as regards African swine fever in Germany, Italy, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia.

(6) Since the date of adoption of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3245, there have been new outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals in Greece, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia, as well as a new outbreak of African swine fever in kept porcine animals in Italy. The epidemiological situation in kept and wild porcine animals has improved in certain areas of Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia .

(7) Any amendments to the restricted zones I, II and III in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 should also be based on the epidemiological situation as regards African swine fever in the areas affected by that disease and the overall epidemiological situation of African swine fever in the Member State concerned, the level of risk for the further spread of that disease, as well as scientifically based principles and criteria for geographically defining zoning due to African swine fever as laid out in the Commission Notice on the guidelines on the prevention, control and eradication of African swine fever in the Union (ASF guidelines) (6). The amendments also take account international standards, such as the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (7) of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and justifications for zoning provided by the competent authorities of the Member States concerned.

(8) In December 2024 and January 2025, several outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals were observed in the East Macedonia and Thrace region in Greece, in areas listed as restricted zones I in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 in proximity to restricted zones II. These new outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals constitute an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. In order to ensure territorial continuity, in accordance with Article 6(2) of that Implementing Regulation these areas of Greece currently listed as restricted zones I affected by those recent outbreaks of African swine fever, should now be listed instead as restricted zones II in that Annex, and the current boundaries of restricted zones I and II also need to be redefined to take account of those outbreaks.

(9) Also, in January 2025 an outbreak of African swine fever in a wild porcine animal was observed in the East Macedonia and Thrace region in Greece, in an area listed as a restricted zone II in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 but in close proximity to a restricted zone I in that Annex. This new outbreak of African swine fever in a wild porcine animal constitutes an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. This area of Greece currently listed as a restricted zone I should now be listed instead as a restricted zone II in that Annex, and the current boundaries of restricted zones I and II also need to be redefined to take account of this outbreak.

(10) In addition, in January 2025, an outbreak of African swine fever in kept porcine animals was observed in the Emilia Romagna Region in Italy, in an area listed as a restricted zone II in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594. This new outbreak of African swine fever in kept porcine animals constitutes an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. This area of Italy currently listed as a restricted zone II affected by this recent outbreak of African swine fever, should now be listed instead as a restricted zone III in that Annex, and the current boundaries of restricted zone II also need to be redefined to take account of this outbreak.

(11) Furthermore, in January 2025, several outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals were observed in the Panevezio region in Lithuania, in an area listed as a restricted zone II in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 but in close proximity to a restricted zone I in that Annex. These new outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals constitute an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. This area of Lithuania currently listed as a restricted zone I, should now be listed instead as a restricted zone II in that Annex, and the current boundaries of restricted zones I and II also need to be redefined to take account of those outbreaks.

(12) Also, in December 2024 and January 2025, several outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals were observed in the Mazowieckie, Pomorskie and Zachodniopomorskie Regions in Poland, in areas listed as restricted zones I in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 in proximity to a restricted zone II. These new outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals constitute an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. In order to ensure territorial continuity, in accordance with Article 6(2) of that Implementing Regulation those areas of Poland currently listed as restricted zones I affected by these recent outbreaks of African swine fever, should now be listed instead as restricted zones II in that Annex, and the current boundaries of restricted zones I and II also need to be redefined to take account of those outbreaks.

(13) In addition, in December 2024 and January 2025, several outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals were observed in the Pomorskie and Zachodniopomorskie Region in Poland, in areas listed as a restricted zone II in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, but in close proximity to a restricted zone I in that Annex. These new outbreaks of African swine fever in wild porcine animals constitute an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. These areas of Poland currently listed as restricted zones I in Annex I to that Implementing Regulation, should now be listed instead as restricted zones II in that Annex, and the current boundaries of the restricted zones II and I also need to be redefined to take account of those outbreaks.

(14) Furthermore, in January 2025, an outbreak of African swine fever in a wild porcine animal was observed in the Trenčiansky County in Slovakia, in an area not listed in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, in proximity to restricted zones II and I. This new outbreak of African swine fever in a wild porcine animal constitutes an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. In order to ensure territorial continuity, in accordance with Article 6(2) of that Implementing Regulation this area of Slovakia currently not listed and affected by that recent outbreak of African swine fever, should now be listed instead as a restricted zone II in that Annex, and the current boundaries of restricted zones I and II also need to be redefined to take account of this outbreak.

(15) In addition, in January 2025, an outbreak of African swine fever in a wild porcine animal was observed in the Nitriansky County in Slovakia, in an area listed as a restricted zone I in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, in proximity to a restricted zone II. This new outbreak of African swine fever in a wild porcine animal constitutes an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. In order to ensure territorial continuity, in accordance with Article 6(2) of that Implementing Regulation this area of Slovakia currently listed as a restricted zone I affected by that recent outbreak of African swine fever, should now be listed instead as a restricted zone II in that Annex, and the current boundaries of restricted zones I and II also need to be redefined to take account of this outbreak.

(16) On the basis of information and justification provided by Latvia and taking into account the effectiveness of the disease control measures for African swine fever for kept porcine animals in a restricted zone III listed in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 being applied in Latvia in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and in particular those laid down in Articles 22, 25 and 40 thereof, and in line with the risk mitigation measures for African swine fever set out in the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the territories in the Dobeles County in Latvia currently listed as a restricted zone III in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 should now be listed instead as a restricted zone II in that Annex, due to the absence of African swine fever outbreaks in kept porcine animals in this restricted zone III for the past three months, while the disease is still present in wild porcine animals.

(17) Also, on the basis of information and justification provided by Lithuania and taking into account the effectiveness of the disease control measures for African swine fever for kept porcine animals in a restricted zone III listed in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 being applied in Lithuania in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and in particular those laid down in Articles 22, 25 and 40 thereof, and in line with the risk mitigation measures for African swine fever set out in the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the zones in the Alytaus County in Lithuania, currently listed as a restricted zone III in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 should now be listed as a restricted zone II in that Annex, due to the absence of African swine fever outbreaks in kept porcine animals in that restricted zone III for the past three months, while the disease is still present in wild porcine animals.

(18) In addition, on the basis of information and justification provided by Italy and taking into account the effectiveness of the disease control measures for African swine fever for wild porcine animals in certain restricted zones I and II listed in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 being applied in Italy in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and in particular those laid down in Articles 64, 65 and 67 thereof, and in line with the risk mitigation measures for African swine fever set out in the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the zones in the Lazio region in Italy, currently listed as restricted zones I and II in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 should now be delisted from that Annex, due to the absence of African swine fever outbreaks in kept and wild porcine animals in these restricted zones I and II for the past twelve months.

(19) Finally, on the basis of information and justification provided by Slovakia and taking into account the effectiveness of the disease control measures for African swine fever for kept porcine animals in a restricted zone III listed in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 being applied in Slovakia in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and in particular those laid down in Articles 22, 25 and 40 thereof, and in line with the risk mitigation measures for African swine fever set out in the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the zones in the Banskobystrický Countee in Slovakia, currently listed as restricted zone III in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 should now be listed as restricted zone II in that Annex, due to the absence of African swine fever outbreaks in kept porcine animals in this restricted zones III for the past three months, while the disease is still present in wild porcine animals.

(20) In order to take account of the recent developments in the epidemiological situation of African swine fever in the Union, and in order to combat the risks associated with the spread of that disease in a proactive manner, new restricted zones of a sufficient size should be demarcated for Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia and listed as restricted zones I, II and III in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, and certain restricted zones I and II should be delisted from that Annex for Italy.

(21) As the situation as regards African swine fever is very dynamic in the Union, when demarcating those new restricted zones, account has been taken of the epidemiological situation in the surrounding areas.

(22) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of African swine fever, it is important that the amendments to be made to Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 by this Regulation take effect as soon as possible.

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