(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) 2020/692 (2) 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) 2021/404 (3) 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 from poultry and game birds.

(5)

Canada has notified the Commission of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in the province of Quebec, which was confirmed on 27 March 2023 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(6)

Additionally, the United States has notified the Commission of four outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in the states of Colorado (1) and New York (3), United States, which were confirmed between 22 March 2023 and 5 April 2023 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(7)

Following those recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the veterinary authorities of Canada and the United States established control zones of at least 10 km around the affected establishments and implemented a stamping-out policy in order to control the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza and limit the spread of that disease.

(8)

Canada and the United States have submitted information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on their territory and the measures they have taken to prevent the further spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. 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 and germinal products of poultry, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds from the areas under restrictions established by the veterinary authorities of Canada and the United States due to the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza should no longer be authorised.

(9)

Furthermore, the United Kingdom has submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to nine outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry establishments in the counties of Essex (6), Lincolnshire (1), Norfolk (1) and West Midlands (1) in England, United Kingdom, which were confirmed between 6 September 2022 and 11 November 2022.

(10)

The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by the United Kingdom and concluded that the outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza 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 in the United Kingdom, from which the entry into the Union of poultry commodities was suspended following those outbreaks.

(11)

Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be therefore amended to take account of the current epidemiological situation as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza in Canada, the United Kingdom and in the United States.

(12)

Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza 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.

(13)

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