(1)

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU (4) lays down animal health control measures in relation to African swine fever in the Member States or areas thereof listed in the Annex thereto (the Member States concerned). That Implementing Decision provides for prohibitions on the dispatch of consignments of domestic pigs and pig products, as well as consignments of feral pigs and feral pig products from the areas listed in the Annex thereto. It also lays down other rules aimed at preventing the spread of African swine fever, including information requirements for Member States. The animal health control measures laid down in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU apply in parallel to those laid down in Council Directive 2002/60/EC (5), and are intended to combat the spread of African swine fever particularly at Union level.

(2)

Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU also provides for derogations from the prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs from certain areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision subject to compliance with certain conditions.

(3)

The pathogen identification test (namely, virus genome detection by the polymerase chain reaction as outlined by the EU reference laboratory for African swine fever) for African swine fever is the most effective tool for an early identification of that disease, as demonstrated by the experience gained by the Member States during the evolution of that disease in the Union, and as documented by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the Scientific Report of EFSA on Epidemiological analyses on African swine fever in the Baltic countries and Poland, published on 23 March 2017; in the Scientific Report of EFSA on Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the Baltic States and Poland, published on 8 November 2017; and in the Scientific Report of EFSA on Epidemiological analyses of African swine fever in the European Union, published on 29 November 2018 (6). Accordingly, the pathogen identification test for African swine fever should replace the laboratory testing currently required by the Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. Articles 3 and 8 of that Implementing Decision should therefore be amended accordingly.

(4)

Provided that certain animal health conditions laid down in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU are implemented and properly adhered to, the dispatch of live pigs from areas listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU to areas listed in Part II or III of that Annex of another Member State through adjacent areas that are already listed in the Annex forming a territorial continuity of restrictions due to African swine fever, does not pose a risk of further virus transmission as the pigs are only transported through restricted areas. Therefore, the approval of the competent authorities of the Member States of the places of transit and of destination for such trade, and certain information requirements on the Member State of origin to the Commission and the other Member States should not be required. Consequently, Article 3(4) of Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should be amended accordingly.

(5)

The period of application of the measures provided for in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should take account of the epidemiology of African swine fever and also the timeframe set out in the Chapter on African swine fever in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health to regain African swine fever disease-free status. Therefore, given the current epidemiological situation in the Union and in neighbouring third countries and the efforts required to combat that disease, while at the same time not imposing unnecessary restrictions on trade, the period of application of Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should be extended until 21 April 2021. That date takes into account the date of application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7) which applies from 21 April 2021 and provides for safeguard measures in the event of animal diseases. It is important to have continuity of measures against African swine fever at Union level in light of the current epidemic of that disease.

(6)

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

(1)

Article 3 is amended as follows:

(2)

Article 8(2) is amended as follows:

(3)

In Article 21, the date ‘31 December 2019’ is replaced by ‘21 April 2021’.