Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/946 of 17 June 2022 amending Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605 laying down special control measures for African swine fever (Text with EEA relevance)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/946of 17 June 2022amending Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605 laying down special control measures for African swine fever(Text with EEA relevance)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")OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1., and in particular Article 71(3) thereof,Whereas:(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 exports to third countries.(2)Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605 of 7 April 2021 laying down special control measures for African swine fever (OJ L 129, 15.4.2021, p. 1). was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and it lays down special disease control measures regarding African swine fever to be applied for a limited period of time by the Member States listed in Annex I thereto (the Member States concerned), in restricted zones I, II and III listed in that Annex.(3)The areas listed as restricted zones I, II and III in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605 are based on the epidemiological situation of African swine fever in the Union. Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605 was last amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/917Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/917 of 13 June 2022 amending Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605 laying down special control measures for African swine fever (OJ L 159, 14.6.2022, p. 3). following changes in the epidemiological situation as regards that disease in Germany and Poland.(4)Any amendments to restricted zones I, II and III in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605 should 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 and the Union’s guidelines agreed with the Member States at the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed and publicly available on the Commission’s websiteWorking Document SANTE/7112/2015/Rev. 3 "Principles and criteria for geographically defining ASF regionalisation". https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/animal-diseases/control-measures/asf_en. Such amendments should also take account of international standards, such as the Terrestrial Animal Health CodeOIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 28th Edition, 2019. ISBN of volume I: 978-92-95108-85-1; ISBN of volume II: 978-92-95108-86-8. https://www.oie.int/standard-setting/terrestrial-code/access-online/ of the World Organisation for Animal Health and justifications for zoning provided by the competent authorities of the Member States concerned.(5)There has been an outbreak of African swine fever in kept porcine animals in Italy.(6)In June 2022, one outbreak of African swine fever in kept porcine animals was observed in the municipality of Rome in Italy in an area currently listed as restricted zone II in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605. This new outbreak of African swine fever in kept porcine animals constitutes an increased level of risk, which should be reflected in that Annex. Accordingly, this area in Italy currently listed as restricted zone II in that Annex in Italy affected by this recent outbreak of African swine fever, should now be listed as restricted zone III in that Annex instead of as restricted zone II thereof and the current boundaries of restricted zone II also need to be redefined to take account of those recent outbreak.(7)Following this recent outbreak of African swine fever in kept porcine animals in Italy, and taking into account the current epidemiological situation as regards African swine fever in the Union, zoning in this Member State has been reassessed and updated. In addition, the risk management measures in place have also been reassessed and updated. These changes should be reflected in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605.(8)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 Italy and duly listed as restricted zones II and III in Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/605. 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 situation in the surrounding areas.(9)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) 2021/605 by this Implementing Regulation take effect as soon as possible.(10)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: