Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/868 of 27 April 2023 amending Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom and the United States in the lists of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry and fresh meat of poultry and game birds (Text with EEA relevance)
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/868of 27 April 2023amending Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom and the United States in the lists of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry and fresh meat of poultry and game birds(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 Articles 230(1) and 232(1) and (3) thereof.Whereas:(1)Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin must come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation in order to enter the Union.(2)Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin (OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 379). lays down the animal health requirements that consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, from third countries or territories, or zones thereof, or compartments thereof in the case of aquaculture animals, must comply with in order to enter the Union.(3)Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 of 24 March 2021 laying down the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof from which the entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin is permitted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 114, 31.3.2021, p. 1). establishes the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones or compartments thereof, from which the entry into the Union of the species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin falling within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 is permitted.(4)More particularly, Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 set out the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union, respectively, of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds.(5)Canada has notified the Commission of five outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry in the provinces of Ontario (1) and Quebec (4), which were confirmed between 3 April 2023 and 13 April 2023 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).(6)Furthermore, Chile has notified the Commission of six outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the regions of Biobío (2), Maule (2) and Valparaíso (2), which were confirmed between 19 March 2023 and 14 April 2023 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).(7)In addition, the United States has notified the Commission of four outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the states of New York (3), North Dakota (1) and South Dakota (1), which were confirmed between 12 April 2023 and 19 April 2023 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).(8)Following those recent outbreaks of HPAI, the veterinary authorities of Canada, Chile and the United States established restricted zones of at least 10 km around the affected establishments and implemented a stamping-out policy in order to control the presence of HPAI and limit the spread of that disease.(9)Canada, Chile and the United States have submitted information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on their territories and the measures they have taken to prevent the further spread of HPAI. That information has been evaluated by the Commission. On the basis of that evaluation and in order to protect the animal health status of the Union, the entry into the Union of consigments of poultry, germinal products of poultry, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds from the areas under restrictions established by the veterinary authorities of Canada, Chile and the United States due to the recent outbreaks of HPAI should no longer be authorised.(10)Furthermore, Canada has submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to 10 outbreaks of HPAI in poultry establishments in the provinces of Alberta (4), New Brunswick (1), Quebec (3) and Saskatchewan (2), which were confirmed between 24 April 2022 and 9 September 2022.(11)In addition, the United Kingdom has submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to 61 outbreaks of HPAI in poultry establishments in the counties of Aberdeenshire (1), Cumbria (1), Derbyshire (3), Durham (1), Lancashire (8), Lincolnshire (1), Norfolk (16), North Yorkshire (2), Northamptonshire (4), Oxfordshire (1), Suffolk (11) and West Sussex (1) in England, United Kingdom, and in the council areas of Aberdeenshire (6), Angus (1), Fife (2), Highland (1) and Stirling (1) in Scotland, United Kingdom, which were confirmed between 17 September 2022 and 15 February 2023.(12)Moreover, the United States has submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to 38 outbreaks of HPAI a in poultry establishments in the states of Alaska (1), California (4), Colorado (2), Florida (3), Idaho (1), Iowa (3), Kansas (2), Michigan (2), Mississipi (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (2), New Hampshire (1), North Dakota (3), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (6), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (1) and Virginia (1), which were confirmed between 13 September 2022 and 28 February 2023.(13)Furthermore, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have also submitted information on the measures they have taken to prevent the further spread of HPAI. In particular, following those outbreaks of that disease, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States have implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease, and they have also completed the requisite cleaning and disinfection following the implementation of the stamping out policy on the infected poultry establishments on their territories.(14)The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States and concluded that the outbreaks of HPAI in poultry establishments have been cleared and that there is no longer a risk associated with the entry into the Union of poultry commodities from the zones of Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States from which the entry into the Union of poultry commodities was suspended following those outbreaks.(15)Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be therefore amended to take account of the current epidemiological situation as regards HPAI in Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom and the United States.(16)Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom and the United States as regards HPAI and the serious risk of its introduction into the Union, the amendments to be made to Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.(17)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: