(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 establishments where poultry or captive birds are kept. In the event of an outbreak of HPAI in establishments where poultry or captive birds are kept, there is a risk that the disease agent may spread to other such establishments.

(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 HPAI. In particular, Article 21 of that Delegated Regulation provides that in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease in an establishment, the competent authority is to immediately establish a restricted zone comprising a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

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

(4) In particular, Article 2, point (a), Article 3, point (a), and Article 4, point (a) of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 provide, respectively, that following outbreaks of HPAI, the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones to be established in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 must comprise at least the areas listed as protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones in that Annex. Article 2, point (b), Article 3, point (b), and Article 4, point (b) of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 also provide that the measures to be applied in those protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones, in accordance with that Delegated Regulation, must be maintained until at least the dates set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(5) The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 was last amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/821 (4) following outbreaks of HPAI in Czechia, Italy and Poland in establishments where poultry were kept.

(6) Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/821, Bulgaria and Poland have notified the Commission of new outbreaks of HPAI in those Member States in establishments where poultry were kept. In particular, these notifications concerned an outbreak in the Plovdiv region in Bulgaria, and 16 outbreaks in the Mazowieckie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Wielkopolskie voivodeships in Poland.

(7) Following those new outbreaks, Bulgaria and Poland have taken the 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, the competent authority of Poland has decided to establish a further restricted zone adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones that were established following several outbreaks in an area in the Mazowieckie voivodeship which is at increased risk for the spread of HPAI.

(9) The Commission has examined the disease control measures taken by Bulgaria and Poland, and it is satisfied that the boundaries of the protection and surveillances zones established by those two Member States, and the boundaries of the further restricted zone established by Poland, for the outbreaks described are at a sufficient distance from the establishments where the outbreaks of HPAI have been confirmed.

(10) In addition, Bulgaria has informed the Commission that the cleaning and disinfection in the establishments affected by outbreaks BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00004, BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00005, BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00006, BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00007 and BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00008, located in the region of Haskovo has been completed later than expected. Therefore, the duration of the protection and surveillance zones established for those outbreaks by Bulgaria, as listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, needs to be extended, in accordance with Article 39 and Article 55 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(11) Furthermore, Denmark has informed the Commission that the laboratory examinations in relation to the visits by the official veterinarians in establishments in the surveillance zone that was established for outbreak DK-HPAI(P)-2026-00008, located in the municipality of Næstved, have been completed later than expected. Therefore, the duration of the surveillance zone established for that outbreak by Denmark, as listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, needs to be extended, in accordance with Article 55 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(12) In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid any unjustified disruptions to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly lay down at Union level, in collaboration with Bulgaria and Poland the protection and surveillance zones established by those Member States, and the further restricted zone established by Poland, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(13) Therefore, the list of areas to be subject to protection and surveillance zones for Bulgaria and Poland in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 should be amended, to take account of the appropriate boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones as established by those Member States, following the new HPAI outbreaks therein, and the required duration of the measures to be applied in those zones needs to be set out, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(14) In the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, there are currently no areas listed as further restricted zones for Poland. Therefore, the area concerned should now be listed as further restricted zone in Poland, to take account of the boundaries of that zone established Poland, as well as the required duration of the measures to be applied in that zone, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(15) In addition, the dates until which the measures are to be applied in the protection and surveillance zones established by Bulgaria for outbreaks BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00004, BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00005, BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00006, BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00007 and BG-HPAI(P)-2026-00008, and in the surveillance zone established by Denmark for outbreak DK-HPAI(P)-2026-00008, as listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, should be amended to take account of the extended duration of the restrictions.

(16) The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(17) 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 the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 by this Decision take effect as soon as possible.

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