(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin must 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) lays down the animal health requirements that 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 with in order to enter the Union.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (3) lays down the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones 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. Those lists and certain general rules concerning those lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII to that Implementing Regulation.

(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 and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds.

(5)

Australia has notified the Commission of two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry in the state of Victoria, which were confirmed on 22 May 2024 and 24 May 2024, respectively, by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(6)

Australia is currently listed in the lists of third countries or territories, or zones thereof set out in Parts 1 of Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and hatching eggs of poultry and of fresh meat of poultry.

(7)

Due to the risk of the introduction of HPAI into the Union linked with the entry of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry and of fresh meat of poultry from Australia, and in the absence of guarantees allowing for regionalisation of that third country, the entry into the Union of such consignments should no longer be authorised.

(8)

In addition, the United States has notified the Commission of six outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the states of Idaho (1) and Minnesota (5), which were confirmed on 20 May 2024 and 21 May 2024, respectively, by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(9)

Following those recent outbreaks of HPAI, the veterinary authority of the United States established restricted zones of at least 10 km around the affected establishments and implemented a stamping-out policy to control the presence of HPAI and limit the spread of that disease.

(10)

The United States has submitted information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on its territory and the measures taken to prevent the further spread of HPAI following these recent outbreaks in the states of Idaho and Minnesota.

(11)

That information has been evaluated by the Commission. The Commission considers that, in view of the animal health situation in the areas under restrictions established by the veterinary authority of the United States, the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds from those areas concerned by the recent outbreaks in the states of Idaho and Minnesota should be suspended, in order to protect the animal health status of the Union.

(12)

Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should, therefore, be amended to take account of the current epidemiological situation as regards HPAI in Australia and the United States.

(13)

Taking into account the current epidemiological situation as regards HPAI in Australia and the United States, the amendments to be made to Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(14)

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