(1)

Infection with lumpy skin disease virus is an infectious, vector-borne disease affecting bovine animals. Its occurrence can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and on the profitability of farming, also causing disturbance to movements of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries. In the event of an outbreak of an infection with lumpy skin disease virus in bovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments keeping bovine animals, particularly due its main mode of transmission through vectors.

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (2) 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 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (3). 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 infection with lumpy skin disease virus, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise at least 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) 2025/1582 (4) lays down certain emergency measures related to outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in Italy. Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 provides for the establishment, in Italy, of restricted zones, comprising protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones, in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, as well as the establishment of vaccination zones, in accordance with Part 1 of Annex IX to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 (5). In addition, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 provides that those protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones, as well as the vaccination zones, are to comprise at least the areas listed in Annexes I and III thereto, and the measures required to be applied in those zones are to be applied at least until the dates set out in those Annexes.

(4)

Furthermore, Article 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 provides that Italy is to ensure that movements of bovine animals from the protection, surveillance or further restricted zones set out in Annex I to that Implementing Decision to a destination located outside the external perimeter of the further restricted zone in Italy or outside that Member State are prohibited until the dates listed in that Annex.

(5)

In addition, Article 3 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 provides that Italy is to apply, in the areas listed in Annex II to that Implementing Decision, and for the periods specified in that Annex, the measures applicable to further restricted zones, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. It also prohibits movements of bovine animals from the areas listed in Annex II to that Implementing Decision to a destination located outside those areas in Italy or outside that Member State for the periods specified in that Annex.

(6)

Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2087 (6), Italy has notified the Commission of eight new outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in establishments keeping bovine animals in the provinces of Nuoro and Oristano, in the region of Sardinia, which were reported between 15 October 2025 and 5 November 2025. In response to those outbreaks, Italy has established protection and surveillance zones, in the provinces of Nuoro and Oristano, in the region of Sardinia, where the disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are applied.

(7)

On 17 November 2025, Italy reported additional data to allow an assessment of the epidemiological situation in its territory. That information demonstrates a significant improvement in the overall situation, supported by a favourable risk assessment concerning the spread of infection with lumpy skin disease virus, the effective implementation of the measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and the achievement of the minimum vaccination coverage required in accordance with Annex IX to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361.

(8)

Italy has also informed the Commission of delays in the implementation of eradication measures for several outbreaks in the region of Sardinia, resulting in certain outbreaks remaining unresolved. Consequently, the duration of the protection and surveillance zones established around those outbreaks must be prolonged, and this Decision accordingly extends their period of application.

(9)

In view of the evolving epidemiological situation in the region of Sardinia, it is necessary to reassess the restricted zones listed in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582. In particular, the further restricted zone should be lifted, while the protection and surveillance zones around those outbreaks for which eradication measures have been delayed should be spatially adjusted and their duration prolonged. In addition, protection and surveillance zones should be established around the eight additional confirmed outbreaks. Therefore, the references to the further restricted zone in Articles 1 and 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 should be removed, and Part B of Annex I to that Implementing Decision, which lists further restricted zone, should be deleted.

(10)

In view of the lifting of the further restricted zone provided for in Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582, the additional measures laid down in Article 3 of that Implementing Decision, which applied specifically to the area listed in Anne II to that Decision, are no longer necessary. Consequently, Article 3 and the current Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 should be deleted. As a result of that deletion, the current Annex III, listing the vaccination zones, should be renumbered as Annex II.

(11)

The size of the areas indicated as protection and surveillance zones in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582, as amended by this Decision, as well as the duration of the measures to be applied therein, are based on the criteria laid down in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, as well as on the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. The criteria applied for the choice of the size of the protection and surveillance zones, as well as of the duration of the measures to be applied therein, include the consideration of not only the epidemiological situation as regards infection with lumpy skin disease virus in the areas affected by that disease, but also of other epidemiological factors, including geographical parameters and the risk for the further spread of the disease in view of the presence of insect vectors. The chosen duration of the measures provided for in this Decision has also taken into account the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (7).

(12)

Articles 2 and 3 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 prohibit the movement of bovine animals from protection, surveillance or further restricted zones to destinations outside the external perimeter of the further restricted zone in Italy or outside that Member State, until the dates listed in Annexes I and II thereto. In view of the unresolved outbreaks in the region of Sardinia, that prohibition should continue to apply in the protection and surveillance zones established in Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582, as amended by this Decision.

(13)

The vaccination zones established in Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 remain necessary, and vaccination should continue in accordance with Italy’s official vaccination plan dated 1 July 2025, which was submitted pursuant to Article 6(4), point (a), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361. As the current Annex II is deleted, the Annex listing the vaccination zones should remain in effect and be renumbered as Annex II to ensure continuation of vaccination activities in the designated zones.

(14)

The Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(15)

In light of the epidemiological situation in Italy, the amendments to be made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1582 by this Decision should apply as soon as possible to prevent the further spread of the disease within Italy, to other Member States or to third countries, and to avoid any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union or unjustified barriers to trade with third countries.

(16)

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

1.

Articles 1 and 2 are replaced by the following:

2.

Article 3 is deleted;

3.

The Annexes are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.