Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/91 of 13 January 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (notified under document C(2025) 197) (Only the Bulgarian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance)
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Address https://gelex.eu/eli/EU/decision/2025/91@2025-01-13/en
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (Animal Health Law), and in particular Article 259(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease affecting caprine and ovine 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 exports to third countries.
(2) In the event of an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of caprine or ovine animals.
(3) Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/687 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. In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including sheep pox and goat pox, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zone around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.
(4) In order to address outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria, the Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2778 on the basis of Article 259 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. Until 21 November 2024, this Decision laid down certain interim emergency measures relating to infection with sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria.
(5) After the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2778, Bulgaria notified the Commission of an additional outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in an establishment where ovine and caprine animals were kept. As a result, on 19 November 2024, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 repealed and replaced Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2778 with effect from 22 November 2024. In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 provides that the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones to be established by Bulgaria, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, in response to the latest outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.
(6) The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 was further amended by Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2024/3111 on 6 December 2024 and 2024/3232 on 19 December 2024 in response to further outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine and caprine animals are kept in Bulgaria.
(7) Since the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3232, Bulgaria has again notified the Commission of further outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine and caprine animals are kept, located in the regions of Sliven and Kardzhali.
(8) Bulgaria has 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.
(9) 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, spatially and temporally adjust at Union level, in collaboration with Bulgaria, the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones duly established by this Member State in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. The duration of these measures also takes into account the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). In the current epidemiological situation, there is a high risk of the further spread of the disease due to the fact that a new outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox has occurred, with the first outbreak confirmed in the region of Kardzhali on 18 December 2024. This indicates that the disease continues to persist and spread over long distances, in spite of the measures already in place.
(10) Therefore, the areas listed as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones for Bulgaria in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 as well as the duration of the measures applicable therein should be amended and updated, taking into account the latest outbreaks as well as all of the considerations mentioned in recital 9.
(11) Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(12) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of sheep pox and goat pox, it is important that the amendments to be made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 by this Decision take effect as soon as possible.
(13) Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the Union as regards sheep pox and goat pox, the period during which the measures provided for by Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 need to apply should be prolonged until 31 March 2025.
(14) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1 Amendments to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918
Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2918 is amended as follows:
(1) in Article 4, the date 1 March 2025 is replaced by 31 March 2025;
(2) the Annex is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2 Addressee
This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Bulgaria.
Done at Brussels, 13 January 2025. For the Commission Olivér Várhelyi Member of the Commission
ANNEX
ANNEX A.
Protection and surveillance zones established around confirmed outbreaks Region and ADIS reference number of the outbreak Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the restricted zones in Bulgaria referred to in Article 1 Date until applicable Region of Sliven BG-CAPRIPOX-2024-00008 BG-CAPRIPOX-2024-00010 BG-CAPRIPOX-2024-00012 BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00001 Protection zone: Those parts of the region of Sliven, contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.587, Long. 26.4778 (2024/8), Lat. 42.5865, Long. 26.4795 (2024/10) Lat. 42.5864, Long. 26.4777 (2024/12), Lat. 42.5854, Long 26.4779 (2025/1) 30.1.2025 Surveillance zone: Those parts of the region of Sliven, contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.587, Long. 26.4778 (2024/8), Lat. 42.5865, Long. 26.4795 (2024/10) Lat. 42.5864, Long. 26.4777 (2024/12) , Lat. 42.5854, Long 26.4779 (2025/1) excluding the areas contained in the protection zone 8.2.2025 Surveillance zone: Those parts of the region of Sliven, contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.587, Long. 26.4778 (2024/8), Lat. 42.5865, Long. 26.4795 (2024/10) Lat. 42.5864, Long. 26.4777 (2024/12), Lat. 42.5854, Long 26.4779 (2025/1) 31.1.2025–8.2.2025 Region of Kurdzhali BG-CAPRIPOX-2024-00011 Protection zone: Those parts of the region of Kurdzhali, contained within a circle of a radius of 3 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 41.463, Long.25.676 (2024/11) 10.1.2025 Surveillance zone: Those parts of the region of Kurdzhali, contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 41.463, Long.25.676 (2024/11) excluding the areas contained in the protection zone 19.1.2025 Surveillance zone: Those parts of the region of Kurdzhali, contained within a circle of a radius of 10 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 41.463, Long.25.676 (2024/11) 11.1.2025–19.1.2025
B.
Further restricted zones Regional unit Areas included in the further restricted zones established in Bulgaria as referred to in Article 2 Date until applicable Region of Stara Zagora Municipalities Galabovo and Opan 4.2.2025 Region of Haskovo Entire territory of the region of Haskovo, excluding the areas included in any protection or surveillance zone. 4.2.2025 Entire territory of the region of Haskovo 6.1.2025–4.2.2025 Region of Sliven Entire territory of the region of Sliven excluding the areas included in any protection or surveillance zone. 10.3.2025 Entire territory of the region of Sliven 9.2.2025–10.3.2025 Region of Yambol Municipalities of Straldzha, Yambol and Tundzha 10.3.2025 Region of Kurdzhali Municipalities of Krumovgrad and Momchilgrad excluding the areas included in any protection or surveillance zone. 18.2.2025 Municipalities of Krumovgrad 20.1.2025–18.2.2025