(1)

Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease affecting caprine and ovine animals and can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming, causing disturbance to movements of consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries. In the event of an outbreak of that disease in caprine and ovine animals, there is a serious risk that it may spread to other establishments keeping those animals.

(2)

Sheep pox and goat pox is defined as a category A disease in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (2). In addition, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (3) supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882. In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including sheep pox and goat pox, and for certain disease control measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

(3)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725 (4) lays down certain emergency measures following confirmed outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria and Greece.

(4)

More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725 provides that the restricted zones to be established by Bulgaria and Greece, following outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725 lays down certain measures to be applied in the further restricted zones, in addition to the disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(5)

In Bulgaria, no new outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox have been reported since the confirmation on 16 September 2023 of a single outbreak in the province of Burgas. As a result, all restricted zones in that Member State have been lifted since 30 November 2023.

(6)

After the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725, Greece notified the Commission of additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine animals were kept, located in the regional unit of Phthiotis, in the region of Central Greece. As a result, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones, as well as the areas listed as further restricted zones for Greece, in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725, were subsequently amended. The last amendment to that Annex was made by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/263 (5).

(7)

Since the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/263, Greece has notified the Commission of two additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where sheep and goats were kept, in the regional unit of Phthiotis, in the region of Central Greece, within the protection zone already established in that region.

(8)

Greece has informed the Commission of the current sheep pox and goat pox situation on its territory, following the recent outbreaks of that disease in the regional unit of Phthiotis, and it has taken the necessary disease control measures required in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(9)

Taking into account the evolution of the epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in Greece, and in order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to movements of consignments of ovine and caprine animals within the Union, and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly identify at Union level the restricted zones for sheep pox and goat pox, which comprise the protection and surveillance zones, as well as the further restricted zones in Greece, in collaboration with this Member State. Furthermore, in view of the current epidemiological situation, it is necessary to amend the size and duration of these zones, including the previously established further restricted zone in the regional unit of Lesvos.

(10)

Therefore, the areas identified as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Greece, in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725, should be amended, spatially and temporally, taking into account the current epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in the region of Central Greece.

(11)

In addition, taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the Union as regards sheep pox and goat pox, the period of application of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2725 should be extended, and it should apply until 31 May 2024.

(12)

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 5 is replaced by the following:

(2)

the Annex is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.