(1)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 (3) was adopted following outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 in a number of Member States (‘the concerned Member States’), and the establishment of protection and surveillance zones by the competent authority of the concerned Member States in accordance with Council Directive 2005/94/EC (4).

(2)

Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 provides that the protection and surveillance zones established by the competent authorities of the concerned Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC are to comprise at least the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 also lays down that the measures to be applied in the protection and surveillance zones, as provided for in Article 29(1) and Article 31 of Directive 2005/94/EC, are to be maintained until at least the dates for those zones set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(3)

The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was subsequently amended by Commission Implementing Decisions (EU) 2017/417 (5), (EU) 2017/554 (6), (EU) 2017/696 (7), (EU) 2017/780 (8), (EU) 2017/819 (9) and (EU) 2017/977 (10), in order to take account of changes to the protection and surveillance zones established by the competent authorities of the Member States in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following further outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 in the Union. In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was amended by Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/696 in order to lay down rules regarding the dispatch of consignments of day-old chicks from the areas listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247, following certain improvements in the epidemiological situation as regards that virus in the Union.

(4)

Furthermore, the period of application of Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 was prolonged until 31 December 2017 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/977, in order to take account of the dates for the implementation of measures in the new areas listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247, as amended by Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/977.

(5)

The overall disease situation in the Union has been steadily improving. Since the date of the last amendment made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/977, only Belgium has detected new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in captive bird holdings. It has also notified the Commission that it has taken the necessary measures required in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around infected holdings. In relation to the other outbreaks in Belgium in small non-commercial holdings, the competent authority has granted a derogation from the zoning requirements, as provided for in Article 16(2) of Directive 2005/94/EC, following a risk assessment.

(6)

France has also established a surveillance zone, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, in relation to the recent outbreaks confirmed in Belgium in captive bird holdings, near the boundary with France.

(7)

The Commission has examined the measures taken by Belgium and France in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following the recent outbreaks of avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in Belgium, and it has satisfied itself that the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones, established by the competent authority of Belgium and the surveillance zone established in France, are at a sufficient distance to any holding where an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5 has been confirmed and that the derogation from the zoning requirements, granted by the competent authority in Belgium, was done in accordance with the requirements laid down in Directive 2005/94/EC.

(8)

In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union, and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly describe at Union level, in collaboration with Belgium and France, the protection and surveillance zones established in Belgium as well as the surveillance zone established in France, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following the recent outbreaks in Belgium. Therefore, the new areas for Belgium and France should be inserted in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247.

(9)

The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should be therefore be amended to update regionalisation at Union level to include the protection and surveillance zones established by Belgium, and the surveillance zone established in France, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC and the duration of the restrictions applicable therein.

(10)

Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11)

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