(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. In the event of an outbreak of that disease in caprine and ovine animals, there is a serious risk that it may spread to other establishments keeping those animals.

(2)

Sheep pox and goat pox is defined as a category A disease in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (2). In addition, Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/687 (3) 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 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 disease control 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 and a surveillance zone, and if necessary further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

(3)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 (4) was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and it lays down emergency measures for Spain in relation to outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox, that were detected in the regions of Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha, where they form two distinct clusters, one in each region.

(4)

More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 provides that the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones, to be established by Spain following outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(5)

Furthermore, in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones, are grouped together with the same date of duration during which the measures apply, for each cluster, which takes into account the date when the last preliminary cleaning and disinfection was completed so that all outbreaks within the same area have been subjected to preliminary cleaning and disinfection, both in Andalusia and Castilla – La Mancha.

(6)

In addition to the protection and surveillance zones, a further restricted zone was established, in accordance with Article 21(1), point (c), of Delegated Regulation 2020/687, in the region of Andalusia, where the evolution of the disease has been less favourable, and where Spain is required to apply certain measures regarding restrictions on the movements of sheep and goats outside that zone, with a view to preventing the spread of the disease to the rest of its territory.

(7)

Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333, Spain has notified the Commission of two additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine and/or caprine animals were kept, located in the region Castilla – La Mancha. Both outbreaks are located outside the areas already listed as protection and surveillance zones in that region in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333, and they were confirmed after the date until the measures in the protection and surveillance zone of this region were applicable.

(8)

The competent authority of Spain 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 those two new outbreaks.

(9)

Spain has also provided the Commission, with regular updates, on the epidemiological situation of sheep pox and goat pox in its territory. These updates include the disease control measures taken by Spain that the Commission reviews in order to assess their effectiveness, taking into account the evolution of the disease.

(10)

Furthermore, in response to the latest outbreaks in Castilla – La Mancha, Spain has informed the Commission that it has decided to extend the application of the measures in the protection and surveillance zones in this region, beyond the dates specified in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333.

(11)

Therefore, the areas listed as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones for Spain in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333, should be amended, spatially and/or temporally, and an additional further restricted zone should be established, in the region of Castilla-La Mancha.

(12)

In addition, with a view to further mitigate the risk of disease spread from Andalusia and Castilla – La Mancha, article 3 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333, laying down the measures to be applied in the further restricted zones, should be amended so that the measures related to the means of transport, used for the movement of sheep and goats outside the further restricted zones, apply to all such movements.

(13)

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 measures laid down in this Implementing Decision apply as soon as possible.

(14)

In addition, taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the Union as regards sheep pox and goat pox, this Decision should apply until 30 April 2023.

(15)

Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2333 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(16)

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