(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)

Canada has notified the Commission of two outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Ontario which were confirmed on 21 March 2025 and 24 March 2025, respectively, by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(6)

The United Kingdom has notified the Commission of an outbreak of HPAI in poultry in the county of Durham, England, which was confirmed on 26 March 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(7)

The United States has notified the Commission of six outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the states of Illinois (1), Indiana (2), Mississippi (1), New Jersey (1) and Pennsylvania (1), which were confirmed between 12 March 2025 and 21 March 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(8)

Following those recent outbreaks of HPAI, the veterinary authorities of Canada, the United Kingdom, and 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.

(9)

Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States have submitted information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on their territories and the measures taken to prevent the further spread of HPAI following those recent HPAI outbreaks.

(10)

That information has been evaluated by the Commission. In view of the animal health situation in the areas under restrictions established by the veterinary authorities of Canada, the United Kingdom, and 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 should be suspended, in order to protect the animal health status of the Union. Therefore, the entries for Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States in the tables set out in in Section B, Part 1 and in Part 2 of Annex V, and the table set out in Section B, Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be amended accordingly.

(11)

In addition, Canada has provided updated information to the Commission in relation to the epidemiological situation on its territory as regards HPAI that gave rise to the suspension of the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds, as set out in Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404.

(12)

On 19 March 2025, Canada submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation in relation to an outbreak of HPAI in poultry in the province of Quebec, which was confirmed on 30 January 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(13)

Canada informed the Commission that, following that outbreak of HPAI, it has implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease, and has also completed the requisite cleaning and disinfection following the implementation of the stamping out policy on the infected poultry establishment.

(14)

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

(15)

In addition, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/641 (4) amended Annexes V, XIV and XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 in order to, inter alia, lift the suspension of the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds from zone GB-2.351 in the United Kingdom, by adding the opening date of 8 March 2025 in the entries for that zone in the tables set out in Section B, Part 1 of Annex V, and in Section B, Part 1, of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404. On 26 March 2025, the United Kingdom informed the Commission that this zone had erroneously been reported as eligible for reopening, as the requisite surveillance in that zone had not yet been completed. Therefore, this zone should not have been reopened. In order to protect the animal health status of the Union, it is necessary to correct this and delete the opening dates for the zone GB-2.351 in the entries for the United Kingdom in the tables set out in Section B, Part 1 of Annex V, and in Section B, Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404. Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be corrected accordingly.

(16)

Taking into account the new HPAI outbreaks in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and in order to avoid any unnecessary disruption in trade with Canada, 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.

(17)

The correction of the opening dates for the zone GB-2.351 in the entries for the United Kingdom in the tables set out in Section B, Part 1 of Annex V, and in Section B, Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should apply from the date of entry into force of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/641, namely 27 March 2025.

(18)

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