Having regard to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice, in particular Articles 1(1)(e), 1(2) and 3 of Protocol 1 thereof.

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 13 in Part 1.1 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement,

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (1) , as amended and as adapted to the EEA Agreement by the specific and the sectoral adaptations referred to in Annex I to that Agreement, and in particular Article 259(1), point (c), thereof,

as adapted to the EEA Agreement by point 4(d) of Protocol 1 to the EEA Agreement

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (‘HPAI’) is an infectious viral disease in birds and may have a severe impact on the profitability of poultry farming causing disturbance to trade within the European Economic Area (‘EEA’) and exports to third countries. HPAI viruses can infect migratory birds, which can then spread these viruses over long distances during their autumn and spring migrations. Therefore, the presence of HPAI viruses in wild birds poses a continuous threat for the direct and indirect introduction of these viruses into holdings where poultry or captive birds are kept. In the event of an outbreak of HPAI, there is a risk that the disease agent may spread to other holdings where poultry or captive birds are kept.

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 establishes a legislative framework for the prevention and control of diseases transmissible to animals or humans. HPAI is referred to in Article 9(1)(a)(i) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as a listed disease subject to the disease prevention and control rules laid down therein. The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 lists HPAI as a category A, D and E disease as defined in Article 1 of that Regulation.

Article 259(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 requires the EFTA Surveillance Authority (‘the Authority') to review emergency measures taken by the Norwegian competent authorities pursuant to Article 257(1) of the same Regulation in the event of an outbreak of a listed disease referred to in Article 9(1)(a) (‘Norwegian measures’), including HPAI. Article 259(1)(c) requires the Authority, where it considers it necessary to avoid unjustified disruptions in the movement of animals and products, to adopt emergency measures referred to in Article 257(1) approving the Norwegian measures.

Articles 60, 64, 65 and 68 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 set out that restricted zones are to be established around an affected establishment in cases of a confirmed outbreak of a listed disease and define the measures to be applied in the restricted zones and the conditions that must be met before the measures can be lifted. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 supplements the rules for the control of category A, B and C diseases laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/429, including disease control measures for HPAI. Article 21 of that Regulation provides for the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including HPAI, as well as further restricted zones if necessary. This regionalisation is applied in particular to preserve the health status of birds in the remainder of the territory of Norway by preventing the introduction of the pathogenic agent and ensuring the early detection of the disease.

The competent authority is to continue to apply the disease control measures in the restricted zones until the conditions set out in Article 68 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Articles 39, 55 and Annexes X-XI of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are fulfilled. This includes confirming that the final cleaning and disinfection has been carried out in line with the requirements of Part C of Annex IV to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

Norway notified on 5 September 2025 a confirmed outbreak of HPAI in a commercial establishment with 7 500 poultry in Hadsel municipality in Nordland County (2). The Authority reviewed the disease control measures taken by Norway and adopted Decision No 150/25/COL of 11 September 2025 approving those measures. That Decision sets out, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, that the protection and surveillance zones established by Norway must comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Decision, and the measures to be applied in those zones must be maintained until at least the dates set out in the Annex.

On 15 September 2025, Norway notified a delay in the finalisation of the preliminary cleaning and disinfection and that the timeframe of the established protection and surveillance zones had been extended accordingly (3). On 23 September 2025, the Authority adopted Decision No 155/25/COL amending the Annex to Decision No 150/25/COL to extend the timeframe of the measures to be applied in the restriction zones.

On 17 October 2025, Norway informed that it had extended the timeframe of the disease control measures to be applied in the surveillance zone as the conditions under Article 68(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 had not been met (4). The measures will remain in place until it has been confirmed that the final cleaning and disinfection has been carried out.

Consequently, Decision No 150/25/COL should be amended to reflect the extended duration of the measures to be applied in the surveillance zone.

Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the EEA as regards the spread of HPAI, it is important that this Decision takes effect as soon as possible.

On 22 October 2025, the Authority, by its Delegated Decision No 183/25/COL (Document No 1569061), duly submitted the draft Decision to the EFTA Veterinary and Phytosanitary Committee in accordance with Articles 259(1) and 266(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. On 24 October 2025, the EFTA Veterinary and Phytosanitary Committee delivered a positive opinion on the draft Decision. Accordingly, the draft Decision is in accordance with the opinion of the Committee,

Article 1

The Annex to Decision No 150/25/COL shall be replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

A consolidated version of Decision No 150/25/COL shall be published on the Authority’s website.

Article 2

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its signature.

Article 3

This Decision is addressed to Norway.

Article 4

This Decision shall be authentic in the English language.