(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, 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 infection with lumpy skin disease virus in bovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of 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) 2025/1708 (4) lays down certain emergency measures related to outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France. More particularly, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 provides for the establishment in France of a restricted zone, comprising protection and surveillance zones, in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, as well as a vaccination zone in accordance with Part 1 of Annex IX to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 (5). In addition, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 provides that those protection and surveillance zones, as well as the vaccination zone, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annexes 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)

Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/68 (6), France has notified the Commission of four additional outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in establishments keeping bovine animals in the previously affected departments of Pyrénées-Orientales, Ariège, and Haute-Garonne, in the Occitanie region between 22 December 2025 and 2 January 2026. In response, France has established protection and surveillance zones in the departments of Ariège, Haute-Garonne and Pyrénées-Orientales, in which the disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are being applied.

(5)

Therefore, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in France, currently set out in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708, should be amended both spatially and temporally, in order to prevent the further spread of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France and to the rest of the Union. Accordingly, it is necessary to amend the list of restricted zones, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein, set out in Annex I to that Implementing Decision.

(6)

The size of the areas indicated as protection and surveillance zones, and 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 a 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).

(7)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429, in particular Article 69, provides that the competent authority of a Member State may use emergency protective vaccination where necessary for the effective control of a listed disease in kept animals. To that end, the competent authority is to establish vaccination zones and implement an official vaccination plan that meets specific requirements. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361, which supplements Regulation (EU) 2016/429, lays down, inter alia, the specific rules to be implemented by Member States when using emergency protective vaccination in bovine animals to prevent or control a listed disease. That Delegated Regulation also contains the conditions under which the movement of vaccinated animals and products thereof may be allowed. Specific conditions for emergency protective vaccination against infection with lumpy skin disease virus are laid down in Annex IX to that Delegated Regulation.

(8)

In view of the spread of the disease in the departments of Ariège, Haute-Garonne, and Pyrénées-Orientales in the Occitanie region, France has adjusted the area around the established protection and surveillance zones where vaccination is implemented, in particular in the departments of Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and the departments of Gers, Haute-Garonne, Tarn, Aude and Hérault in the Occitanie region.

(9)

It is therefore necessary to update Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 to reflect the revised delimitation of vaccination zones I and II.

(10)

In order to ensure coordinated disease control and to safeguard trade within the Union and with third countries, the vaccination zones for infection with lumpy skin disease virus currently set out in Annex II to that Implementing Decision should accordingly be amended.

(11)

The type, size and duration of vaccination zones I and II set out in Parts B and A of Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 are based on the epidemiological situation as regards infection with lumpy skin disease virus and the progress of the vaccination campaigns in France, particularly taking into account the evolving level of vaccine coverage achieved, the Member State’s official vaccination plan, and the progress reports submitted in accordance with Article 11 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361, as well as on the requirements laid down in Annex IX to that Delegated Regulation.

(12)

Article 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 prohibits the movements of bovine animals from the protection and surveillance zones set out in Annex I to that Implementing Decision to destinations outside the external perimeter of those zones in France or outside that Member State until the dates listed in that Annex. In view of the continuing outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France, it is necessary to apply that prohibition in the protection and surveillance zones around the most recent confirmed outbreaks.

(13)

Annexes I and II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(14)

In light of the current epidemiological situation in France as regards infection with lumpy skin disease virus, the amendments to be made to Annexes I and II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 by this Decision should apply as soon as possible in order to prevent the further spread of that disease within France, to other Member States, or to third countries, and also to avoid any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union or any unjustified barriers to trade with third countries.

(15)

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