(1)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 (3) was adopted following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 in a number of Member States (‘the concerned Member States’), and the establishment of protection and surveillance zones by the competent authority of the concerned Member States in accordance with Council Directive 2005/94/EC (4).

(2)

Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 provides that the protection and surveillance zones established by the competent authorities of the concerned Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC are to comprise at least the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 also lays down that the measures to be applied in the protection and surveillance zones, as provided for in Article 29(1) and Article 31 of Directive 2005/94/EC, are to be maintained until at least the dates for those zones set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(3)

The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was subsequently amended by Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2017/417 (5), (EU) 2017/554 (6), (EU) 2017/696 (7), (EU) 2017/780 (8) and (EU) 2017/819 (9), in order to take account of changes to the protection and surveillance zones established by the competent authorities of the Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following further outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 in the Union. In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was amended by Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/696 in order to lay down rules regarding the dispatch of consignments of day-old chicks from the areas listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247, following certain improvements in the epidemiological situation as regards that virus in the Union.

(4)

While the overall disease situation in the Union has been steadily improving, there have been a few further outbreaks since the date of the last amendment made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/819. Italy and the United Kingdom have each notified the Commission of one new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in poultry in holdings located outside the areas currently listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 for these Member States. In addition, Luxembourg has notified the Commission of the first case of the detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of subtype H5N8 in holdings keeping captive birds. Those three Member States have also notified the Commission that they have taken the necessary measures required in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around these new outbreaks.

(5)

The Commission has examined the measures taken by Italy, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following the recent outbreaks of avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in these Member States, and it has satisfied itself that the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones, established by the competent authorities of these Member States, are at a sufficient distance to any holding where an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 has been confirmed.

(6)

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 at Union level, in collaboration with Italy, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg, the new protection and surveillance zones established in these Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC. Therefore, the areas listed for Italy and the United Kingdom in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should be amended, and new areas for Luxembourg should be inserted in that Annex.

(7)

Accordingly, the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should be amended to update regionalisation at Union level to include the new protection and surveillance zones established in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC and the duration of the restrictions applicable therein.

(8)

In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 applies until 30 June 2017. Due to the current outbreaks confirmed in Italy, the United Kingdom and Luxembourg, the measures to be implemented by these Member States in the new areas for them to be listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision will continue to be in place after that date. It is therefore appropriate to prolong the period of application of Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 until 31 December 2017, taking into account the measures to be applied in those three Member States, and in case further outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza occur in the Union.

(9)

Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(10)

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

(1)

in Article 5, the date ‘30 June 2017’ is replaced by the date ‘31 December 2017’;

(2)

the Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.