Official Journal
of the European Union
EN
L series
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Official Journal |
EN L series |
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2026/662 |
20.3.2026 |
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2026/662
of 13 March 2026
amending the Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 concerning certain emergency measures relating to infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France
(notified under document C(2026) 1815)
(Only the French text is authentic)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (1), and in particular Article 259(1) thereof,
Whereas:
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(1) |
Infection with lumpy skin disease virus is an infectious, vector-borne disease affecting bovine animals. Its occurrence can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and on the profitability of farming, causing disturbance to movements of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries. In the event of an outbreak of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in bovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of bovine animals particularly due its main mode of transmission through vectors. |
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(2) |
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (2) 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 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (3). 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 infection with lumpy skin disease virus, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise at least a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones. |
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(3) |
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 (4) lays down certain emergency measures related to outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France. More particularly, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 provides for the establishment in France of a restricted zone, comprising protection and surveillance zones, in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, as well as a vaccination zone in accordance with Part 1 of Annex IX to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 (5). In addition, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 provides that those protection and surveillance zones, as well as the vaccination zone, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annexes thereto, and the measures required to be applied in those zones are to be applied at least until the dates set out in those Annexes. |
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(4) |
Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/393 (6), no additional outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in establishments keeping bovine animals have been notified in France. However, Spain has notified two new outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus in establishments where bovine animals are kept in the province of Huesca, in the Autonomous Community of Aragón, on 2 and 3 March 2026. In response, France has established a surveillance zone in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées, in which the disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are being applied. |
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(5) |
In light of the evolving epidemiological situation, in particular the new outbreaks of lumpy skin disease virus confirmed in Spain, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in France in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 should be amended as regards both their geographical scope and duration. It is therefore necessary to amend the list of restricted zones and the period of application of the measures set out in that Annex, in order to prevent the further spread of lumpy skin disease virus within France and to the rest of the Union |
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(6) |
The size of the areas indicated as protection and surveillance zones, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein, are based on the criteria laid down in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as well as on the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. The criteria applied for the choice of the size of the protection and surveillance zones, as well as of the duration of the measures to be applied therein, include a consideration of not only the epidemiological situation as regards infection with lumpy skin disease virus in the areas affected by that disease, but also of other epidemiological factors, including geographical parameters and the risk for the further spread of the disease in view of the presence of insect vectors. The chosen duration of the measures provided for in this Decision has also taken into account the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (7). |
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(7) |
The vaccination zones established in Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 remain necessary, and vaccination should continue in accordance with France’s official vaccination plan, which was submitted pursuant to Article 6(4), point (a) and (b), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361. |
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(8) |
The type, size and duration of vaccination zones I and II set out in Parts B and A of Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 are based on the epidemiological situation as regards infection with lumpy skin disease virus and the progress of the vaccination campaigns in France, particularly taking into account the evolving level of vaccine coverage achieved, the Member State’s official vaccination plan, and the progress reports submitted in accordance with Article 11 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361, as well as on the requirements laid down in Annex IX to that Delegated Regulation. |
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(9) |
Article 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 prohibits the movements of bovine animals from the protection and surveillance zones set out in Annex I to that Implementing Decision to destinations outside the external perimeter of those zones in France or outside that Member State until the dates listed in that Annex. In view of the existing restricted zones linked to the infection with lumpy skin disease virus on the territory of France, it is necessary to apply that prohibition in the protection and surveillance zones listed in Annex I to that Implementing Decision. |
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(10) |
Given the updated restricted zones in the department of Hautes-Pyrénées, in France, it is necessary to adjust the vaccination zones I and II for infection with lumpy skin disease virus currently, in that Member State, set out in Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708. |
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(11) |
The Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 should, therefore, be amended accordingly. |
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(12) |
In light of the current epidemiological situation in France as regards infection with lumpy skin disease virus, the amendments to be made to Annexes I and II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 by this Decision should apply as soon as possible in order to prevent the further spread of that disease within France, to other Member States, or to third countries, and also to avoid any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union or any unjustified barriers to trade with third countries. |
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(13) |
The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, |
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 are replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.
Done at Brussels, 13 March 2026.
For the Commission
Olivér VÁRHELYI
Member of the Commission
(1) OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj.
(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases (OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 64, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2020/687/oj).
(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 of 3 December 2018 on the application of certain disease prevention and control rules to categories of listed diseases and establishing a list of species and groups of species posing a considerable risk for the spread of those listed diseases (OJ L 308, 4.12.2018, p. 21, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2018/1882/oj).
(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 of 29 July 2025 concerning certain emergency measures relating to infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1336 (OJ L, 2025/1708, 5.8.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1708/oj).
(5) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 of 28 November 2022 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council as regards rules for the use of certain veterinary medicinal products for the purpose of prevention and control of certain listed diseases (OJ L 52, 20.2.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2023/361/oj).
(6) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/393 of 17 February 2026 amending the Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1708 concerning certain emergency measures relating to infection with lumpy skin disease virus in France (OJ L, 2026/393, 20.2.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/393/oj).
(7) https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/terrestrial-code-online-access/.
ANNEX
‘ANNEX I
Protection and surveillance zones established around the confirmed outbreaks
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Administrative area and ADIS reference number of the outbreak |
Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the restricted zone, referred to in Article 1 |
Date until applicable |
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Region of Occitanie (“ZR8”) ES-LSD-2026-00002 ES-LSD-2026-00003 |
Surveillance zone: The following municipalities in the following departments in the Region of Occitanie Hautes Pyrénées Department
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22.04.2026 |
ANNEX II
Part A: Vaccination zone II
The entire territory of:
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1. |
the municipalities of the departments listed in Annex I until the last day of the recovery period, referred to in Part 4 of Annex IX to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361; |
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2. |
the following municipalities in the Regions of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté until the last day of the recovery period, referred to in Part 4 of Annex IX to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361:
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Part B: Vaccination zone I
The entire territory of the Region of Corsica until the last day of the recovery period, referred in Part 4 of Annex IX to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361;
The entire territory of the following departments in the Regions of Occitanie and Nouvelle Aquitaine excluding the municipalities listed in Annex I and Part A of Annex II:
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Department Aude |
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Department Haute Garonne |
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Department Gers |
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Department Herault |
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Department Pyrénées Atlantiques |
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Department Tarn |
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Department Landes |
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/662/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)