(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.

(2)

Sheep pox and goat pox is listed as a category A disease in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (2). In addition, Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/687 (3) supplements the rules laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/429 for the control of category A listed diseases. 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, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

(3)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725 (4) lays down certain emergency measures relating to confirmed outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria and Greece. More particularly, it provides that the restricted zones to be established by those Member States, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(4)

After the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725, Greece notified the Commission of additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine animals were kept, located in the regional unit of Phthiotis, in the region of Central Greece. As a result, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones, as well as the areas listed as further restricted zones for Greece, in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725, were amended. The last amendments to that Annex were made by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/400 (5).

(5)

Since the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/400, Greece has notified the Commission of two additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where sheep and goats were kept, in the regional unit of Phthiotis, in the region of Central Greece, within the protection zone already established in that region. The first of these outbreaks occurred within a very short space of time and within a short distance from the previous outbreaks already covered by the amendments made to the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/400, hence it was not necessary to amend the areas listed as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones. The second outbreak also occurred within a short distance of the previous outbreaks taken into account in areas listed for Greece in that Annex, but substantially later, in early March 2024.

(6)

Taking into account the evolution of the epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in Greece, it is necessary to rapidly adjust at Union level the restricted zones for sheep pox and goat pox, which comprise the protection and surveillance zones, as well as the further restricted zones in Greece, in collaboration with this Member State. In view of the current epidemiological situation and in particular the long period of time between the latest outbreak in early March 2024 and the one immediately before it, it is necessary to amend the duration of the restricted zones, in order to ensure that the disease remains contained and does not spread from those restricted zones to other parts of Greece and to other Member States.

(7)

Therefore, due to latest disease evolution, the duration of the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Greece, listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725, should be amended, taking into account the current epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in the region of Central Greece.

(8)

In addition, taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the Union as regards sheep pox and goat pox, the period of application of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725 should be extended until 31 August 2024.

(9)

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

1.

Article 5 is replaced by the following:

2.

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