(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, XIII and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 set out the lists of third countries, territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union respectively of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, of fresh meat of bovine animals, farmed and wild game ungulates, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds.

(5)

On 20 May 2025 and 28 May 2025, Eswatini has notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) of in total five outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in bovine, ovine and caprine animals in the region of Shiselweni which were confirmed between 19 May 2025 and 28 May 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR and NSP-ELISA).

(6)

The list of third countries, territories, or zones thereof set out in Part 1 of Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 specify that the entry into the Union from zones SZ-1 and SZ-2 in Eswatini of consignments of fresh meat of bovine animals, farmed and wild game ungulates are authorised.

(7)

Due to the risk of the introduction of FMD into the Union linked with the entry of consignments of fresh meat of bovine animals, farmed and wild game ungulates from zones SZ-1 and SZ-2 in Eswatini, 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)

The entries for zones SZ-1 and SZ-2 in Eswatini in the list of third countries, territories, or zones thereof set out in the table in Part 1 of Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should therefore be amended to take account of the current epidemiological situation in that third country.

(9)

In addition, on 28 May 2025 and 3 June 2025, the United States has notified the Commission of four new outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the states of Arizona (3) and New Jersey (1) which were confirmed between 19 May 2025 and 30 May 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(10)

Following those recent outbreaks of HPAI, the veterinary authorities 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.

(11)

The United States has also submitted further information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation in its territory, as well as on the measures taken to prevent the further spread of HPAI following those recent HPAI outbreaks.

(12)

That information has been evaluated by the Commission. 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 the areas concerned by the recent outbreaks should be suspended in order to protect the animal health status of the Union. Therefore, the entries for the United States in the tables set out in in Part 1 and in Part 2, Section B of Annex V, and the table set out in Part 1, Section B of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be amended accordingly.

(13)

Furthermore, Canada and the United Kingdom have provided updated information to the Commission in relation to the epidemiological situation in their territories as regards HPAI that previously gave rise to the suspension of the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds, as set out in Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404.

(14)

On 1 May 2025 and 13 May 2025, Canada submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation in relation to two outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the province of Ontario, which were confirmed on 13 March 2025 and 24 March 2025, by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(15)

On 27 May 2025 and 2 June 2025, the United Kingdom submitted updated information on the animal health situation and the measures it has taken in relation to two outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the counties of East Sussex and North Yorkshire, England which were confirmed on 17 January 2025 and 14 April 2025, respectively, by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(16)

Canada and the United Kingdom informed the Commission that, following those outbreaks of HPAI, they implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease, and also completed the requisite cleaning and disinfection following the implementation of the stamping out policy on the infected poultry establishments.

(17)

The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by Canada and the United Kingdom, and considers that they have provided appropriate guarantees that the animal health situation that has given rise to the suspension of the entry of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds into the Union from the affected zones, as set out in Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, no longer represents a threat to animal or public health in the Union, and that, consequently, the entry into the Union of those consignments from the affected zones of Canada and the United Kingdom, from which entry into the Union has been suspended, should be reauthorised. Therefore, the entries for those third countries in the tables set out in Part 1 and in Part 2, Section B of Annex V, and the table set out in Part 1, Section B of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be amended accordingly.

(18)

Taking into account the recent outbreaks of FMD in Eswatini and the new HPAI outbreaks in the United States, and in order to avoid any unnecessary disruption in trade with Canada and the United Kingdom, the amendments to be made to Annexes V, XIII and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(19)

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