(1)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides 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 that 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) lays down the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones 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. Those lists and certain general rules concerning those lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII to that Implementing Regulation.

(4)

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

(5)

On 16 May 2025, Brazil notified the Commission of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a poultry establishment in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which was confirmed on 15 May 2025 by laboratory analysis (RT-PCR).

(6)

The state of Rio Grande do Sul is included in each of the zones currently listed in the entries for Brazil in Section B of Part 1 of Annex V and in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, as authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds.

(7)

In view of the animal health situation in Brazil following that HPAI outbreak, it is necessary to suspend, for a certain period of time, the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat of poultry and game birds, from the zones in Brazil currently listed in the tables set out in Section B of Part 1 of Annex V and in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, in order to protect the animal health status of the Union. Therefore, the entries for Brazil in the lists in those tables should be amended in light of that outbreak, taking into account the date on which the outbreak of HPAI was confirmed.

(8)

On 10 June 2025 and 28 July 2025, Brazil submitted further information to the Commission on the epidemiological situation in its territory, as well as on the measures taken to prevent the further spread of HPAI following that recent outbreak in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The updated information included data as regards the surveillance carried out to demonstrate the absence of further outbreaks, taking into account the specific epidemiological circumstances in relation to the occurred outbreak in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

(9)

The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by Brazil and considers that the animal health situation is such, that a gradual reauthorisation of the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry and germinal products of poultry, and fresh meat of poultry and game birds into the Union is justified, taking into account the geographical circumstances in Brazil, the incubation period of the HPAI virus and the possible risks of HPAI transmission. This analysis led to the conclusion that, firstly, the entry into the Union of those commodities from the zones in Brazil currently listed in the tables in Section B of Part 1 of Annex V and in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404, excluding the state of Rio Grande do Sul, should be reauthorised from 18 September 2025. Secondly, taking account of the incubation period of the HPAI virus, the entry into the Union of those commodities from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, excluding the area in a 10 km radius around the outbreak establishment, should also be reauthorised from 2 October 2025. Finally, the entry into the Union of those commodities from the area within a 10 km radius around the outbreak establishment should be reauthorised from 16 October 2025.

(10)

Consequently, the entries for Brazil in the lists of third countries, territories, or zones thereof set out in the tables set out in Section B of Part 1 of Annex V and in Section B of Part 1 of Annex XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be amended accordingly, to take account of the epidemiological situation in that third country.

(11)

Taking into account the animal health situation in Brazil as regards HPAI, the amendments to be made to Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(12)

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