BAKGRUNN (fra kommisjonsbeslutningen) 

(1) Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is an infectious viral disease in birds and can have a severe impact on the profitability of poultry farming causing disturbance to trade within the Union and exports to third countries. HPAI viruses can infect migratory birds, which can then spread these viruses over long distances during their autumn and spring migrations. Therefore, the presence of HPAI viruses in wild birds poses a continuous threat for the direct and indirect introduction of these viruses into holdings where poultry or captive birds are kept. In the event of an outbreak of HPAI, there is a risk that the disease agent may spread to other holdings where poultry or captive birds are kept.

(2) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 establishes the legislative framework for the prevention and control of diseases that are transmissible to animals or humans. HPAI falls within the definition of a listed disease in that Regulation, and it is subject to the disease prevention and control rules laid down therein. In addition, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (2) supplements Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards the rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases, including disease control measures for HPAI.

(3) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 (3) was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and it lays down emergency measures at Union level in relation to outbreaks of HPAI.

(4) More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 provides that the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones, established by the Member States concerned following outbreaks of HPAI, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(5) The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 was recently amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2743 (4) following outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in Italy, Hungary, Austria and Poland, which needed to be reflected in that Annex.

(6) Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2743, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have notified the Commission of outbreaks of HPAI, in establishments where poultry were kept, located in the Plovdiv region in Bulgaria, in the Jihomoravský region in Czechia, in the Finistère and Morbihan departments in France, in Brodsko-Posavska county in Croatia, in the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy regions in Italy, in Bács-Kiskun, Békés, Fejér, Hajdú-Bihar and Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok counties in Hungary, in the Wielkopolskie voivodeship in Poland, and in the Nitriansky region in Slovakia.

(7) Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia have taken the necessary disease control measures required in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the outbreaks.

(8) In addition, one of the outbreaks confirmed by Slovakia is located in close proximity to the border with Hungary. Accordingly, the competent authorities of those two Member States have duly collaborated with regard to the establishment of the necessary surveillance zone, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, as the surveillance zone extend into the territory of Hungary.

(9) Moreover, one of the outbreaks confirmed by Czechia is located in close proximity to the border with Slovakia. Accordingly, the competent authorities of those two Member States have duly collaborated with regard to the establishment of the necessary surveillance zone, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, as the surveillance zone extend into the territory of Slovakia.

(10) Furthermore, Italy has established further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones in certain areas at increased risk for the spread of HPAI.

(11) The Commission has examined the disease control measures taken by Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and it is satisfied that the boundaries of the protection and surveillances zones established by those Member States and the boundaries of the further restricted zones established by Italy are at a sufficient distance from the establishments where the outbreaks of HPAI have been confirmed.

(12) In the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, there are currently no areas listed as protection and surveillance zones for Croatia and Slovakia, and there are no areas listed as further restricted zones for Italy.

(13) In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly describe at Union level, in collaboration with Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, the protection and surveillance zones duly established by those Member States and the further restricted zones duly established by Italy in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(14) Therefore, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones for Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Italy, Poland and Hungary in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 should be amended.

(15) In addition, protection and surveillance zones should be listed for Croatia and Slovakia, and further restricted zones should be listed for Italy in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447.

(16) Accordingly, the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 should be amended to update regionalisation at Union level to take account of the protection and surveillance zones duly established by Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Croatia, Italy, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia and of the further restricted zones duly established by Italy in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and the duration of the measures applicable therein.

(17) Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(18) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of HPAI, it is important that the amendments to be made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 by this Decision take effect as soon as possible.

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