(1)

Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease affecting caprine and ovine animals and can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming causing disturbance to movements of consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries.

(2)

In the event of an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of caprine or ovine animals.

(3)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (2) supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (3). In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including sheep pox and goat pox, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zone around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

(4)

Following two outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Romania confirmed on 17 June 2025, Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1319 (4) was adopted, on 27 June 2025, within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. That Implementing Decision lays down certain interim emergency measures relating to infection with sheep pox and goat pox in Romania applicable until 18 July 2025.

(5)

More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1319 provides that the protection and surveillance zones to be established by that Member State, following an outbreak of infection with sheep pox and goat pox, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(6)

Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1319, Romania has notified the Commission of four additional outbreaks of infection with sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine and caprine animals are kept, located in Teleorman county within the limits of the previously established restricted zone.

(7)

In light of the epidemiological situation concerning sheep and goat pox in Romania, and notably taking into account those four new outbreaks inside the restricted zone established after the initial outbreaks, the interim emergency measures foreseen in Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1319 should be adjusted, both spatially and temporally. These measures should also be continued in order to prevent the further spread of the disease in Romania or to the rest of the Union. The updated list of areas where a restricted zone must be established in Romania in respect of sheep and goat pox, as well as the envisaged duration of these zones, should, therefore, be set out in the Annex to this Decision.

(8)

The size of the protection and surveillance zones, and duration of the measures to be applied therein, are based on the criteria set out in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, including the epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in the areas affected by that disease and the overall epidemiological situation of sheep pox and goat pox in the Member State concerned by that disease as well as the level of risk for the further spread of the disease, and are in accordance with the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. The duration of the measures also takes into account the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) (5).

(9)

Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1319 should, therefore, be repealed and replaced by this Decision.

(10)

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

(a)

a restricted zone, which comprises protection and surveillance zones is established immediately by the competent authority of that Member State in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and under the conditions laid down in that Article;

(b)

the protection and surveillance zones referred to in point (a) comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision;

(c)

the measures required to be applied in the protection and surveillance zones, are applied at least until the dates listed in the Annex to this Decision.