(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down, inter alia, the animal health requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, and it applies from 21 April 2021. One of those animal health requirements is that those consignments must come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation.

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (2) supplements Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards the animal health requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories or zones thereof, or compartments thereof in the case of aquaculture animals. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin falling within its scope may only be permitted to enter into the Union if they come from a third country or territory or zone or compartment thereof, listed for the particular species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin in accordance with the animal health requirements laid down in that Delegated Regulation.

(3)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 (3) establishes the lists of third countries, territories, or zones or compartments thereof, from which the entry into the Union of those species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, that fall within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692, is permitted.

(4)

More particularly, Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 sets out the list of third countries, territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates.

(5)

On 30 August 2022, Botswana notified the Commission of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD). That outbreak is located in the Butale Area, the North East Region of that third country and within disease control zone 6b designated by the competent authorities of Botswana, and it was confirmed on 27 August 2022 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(6)

The list of third countries, territories, or zones thereof set out in Annex XIII to Regulation (EU) 2021/404 specifies that the entry into the Union from the zone BW-5, consisting of disease control zones 6a and 6b, in Botswana of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates is authorised.

(7)

Due to the risk of the introduction of FMD into the Union linked with the entry of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates from disease control zone 6b in Botswana, the entry into the Union of such consignments should no longer be authorised.

(8)

The entry for Botswana in the list of third countries, territories, or zones thereof set out in the Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should therefore be amended to take account of the current epidemiological situation in that third country.

(9)

Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be therefore amended accordingly.

(10)

Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in Botswana as regards FMD, the amendments to be made to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(11)

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