(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 requires that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin must come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation in order to enter the Union.

(2)

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 (2) lays down the animal health requirements with which 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, must comply with in order to enter the Union.

(3)

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

(4)

More particularly, Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 set out the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union, respectively, of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat from poultry and game birds.

(5)

The United Kingdom notified the Commission of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. The outbreak is located near Holy Island, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, England, and was confirmed on 9 February 2022 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(6)

Moreover, the United States notified the Commission of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. The outbreak is located in Fulton county, state of Kentucky, United States, and was confirmed on 12 February 2022 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(7)

Furthermore, the United States notified the Commission of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. The outbreak is located in Webster county, state of Kentucky, United States, and was confirmed on 15 February 2022 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(8)

Additionally, the United States notified the Commission of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry. The outbreak is located in a second establishment in the already affected Dubois county, state of Indiana, United States and was confirmed on 16 February 2022 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(9)

The veterinary authorities of the United Kingdom and the United States established a 10 km control zone around the affected establishments and implemented a stamping-out policy in order to control the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza and limit the spread of that disease.

(10)

The United Kingdom and the United States have submitted information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation on their territory and the measures they have taken to prevent the further spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. That information has been evaluated by the Commission. On the basis of that evaluation, the entry into the Union of consigments of poultry, germinal products of poultry, and fresh meat from poultry and game birds from the areas under restrictions established by the veterinary authorities of the United Kingdom and the United States due to the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza should no longer be authorised.

(11)

The animal health situation in several areas of the United Kingdom and of the United States as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza is such that their suspension from the lists set out in Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 is necessary in order to protect the animal health status of the Union.

(12)

Moreover, the United Kingdom has submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to the outbreak of HPAI confirmed in a poultry establishment on 4 November 2021 near Arbroath, Angus, Scotland and the measures it has taken to prevent the further spread of that disease. In particular, following this outbreak of HPAI, the United Kingdom has implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease. In addition, the United Kingdom completed the requisite cleaning and disinfection measures following the implementation of the stamping out policy on the infected poultry establishment on its territory.

(13)

The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by the United Kingdom and concluded that the HPAI outbreak in a poultry establishment near Arbroath, Angus, Scotland has been cleared and that there is no longer any risk associated with the entry into the Union of poultry commodities from the area of the United Kingdom from where entry into the Union of poultry commodities has been suspended due to that outbreak.

(14)

Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be therefore amended accordingly.

(15)

Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the United Kingdom and in the United States as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza and the serious risk of its introduction into the Union, the amendments to be made to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(16)

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