(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 requires that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation in order to enter the Union.

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (2) specifies the animal health requirements with which consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories, or zones thereof, or compartments thereof, in the case of aquaculture animals must comply in order to enter the Union.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (3) establishes the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones or compartments thereof, from which the entry into the Union of the species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin falling within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 is permitted.

(4)

More particularly, Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 set out the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union, respectively, of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat from poultry and game birds.

(5)

On 5 November 2021, the United Kingdom notified the Commission of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. Those outbreaks are located near Wrexham County Borough in Wales and near Arbroath, Angus in Scotland and were confirmed respectively on 2 and 4 November 2021 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(6)

On 9 November 2021, the United Kingdom notified the Commission of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. The outbreak is located near Alcester, Bidford, Warwickshire in England and was confirmed on 8 November 2021 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(7)

The veterinary authorities of the United Kingdom established a 10 km control zone around the affected establishments and implemented a stamping-out policy in order to control the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza and limit the spread of that disease.

(8)

The United Kingdom has submitted information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on its territory and the measures it has taken to prevent the further spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. That information has been evaluated by the Commission. On the basis of that evaluation, entry into the Union of consigments of poultry, germinal products of poultry and fresh meat from poultry and game birds from the area under restrictions established by the veterinary authorities of the United Kingdom due to the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. should no longer be authorised.

(9)

Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be therefore amended accordingly.

(10)

Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the United Kingdom as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza, the amendments to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(11)

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