(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), (EU) 2017/977 (10) and (EU) 2017/1139 (11), 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)

While the overall disease situation in the Union has been steadingly improving, since the date of the last amendment made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247 by Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/1139, France has detected a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in a rural poultry holding in Brillon in northern France near the border with Belgium. 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 the infected holding.

(5)

Belgium has also established a surveillance zone, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, in Brunehaut and Rumes in northern Belgium near the border with France, in relation to the recent outbreak confirmed in France.

(6)

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

(7)

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 France and Belgium, the protection and surveillance zones established in France as well as the surveillance zone established in Belgium, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, following the recent outbreak in France. Therefore, the new areas for France and Belgium should be inserted in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/247.

(8)

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

(9)

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

(10)

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