(1)

African swine fever is an infectious viral disease affecting domestic and feral pig populations and can have a severe impact on the profitability of pig farming causing disturbance to trade within the Union and exports to third countries.

(2)

In the event of an outbreak of African swine fever, there is a risk that the disease agent might spread to other pig holdings and to feral pigs. As a result, it may spread from one Member State to another Member State and to third countries through trade in live pigs or their products.

(3)

Council Directive 2002/60/EC (3) lays down minimum measures to be applied within the Union for the control of African swine fever. Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC provides for the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in the event of outbreaks of that disease, where the measures laid down in Articles 10 and 11 of that Directive are to apply.

(4)

Bulgaria has informed the Commission of the current African swine fever situation in the province of Varna, and in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC, it has established protection and surveillance zones where the measures referred to in Articles 10 and 11 of that Directive are applied.

(5)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1216 (4) was adopted following the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in Bulgaria, in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC, following outbreaks of African swine fever in that Member State.

(6)

Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1216, the epidemiological situation in Bulgaria has remained stable with respect to African swine fever, the Bulgarian authorities have implemented the required control measures and have collected additional surveillance data.

(7)

In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, it is necessary to describe at Union level the revised areas established as protection and surveillance zones for African swine fever in Bulgaria in collaboration with that Member State. These areas provide for a reduced surveillance zone in line with the current epidemiological scenario.

(8)

Accordingly, the areas identified as protection and surveillance zones in Bulgaria should be set out in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that regionalisation fixed.

(9)

In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1216 should be repealed and replaced by this Decision to take account of the updated disease management measures in place and the evolution in the disease situation in Bulgaria as regards African swine fever.

(10)

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