(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, also 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 infection with lumpy skin disease virus in bovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments keeping bovine animals, particularly due to its mode of transmission through vectors.

(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.

(3)

The size of the 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. 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 (4).

(4)

Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and in particular Article 69 thereof, provides that the competent authority of a Member State may use emergency vaccination for the effective control of a listed disease, as referred to in Article 9(1), point (a), of that Regulation, in kept animals. To that end, the competent authority may establish vaccination zones and develop a vaccination plan that meets specific requirements. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 (5), which supplements the rules laid down in Regulation (EU) 2016/429, lays down, inter alia, the specific rules to be implemented by Member States when using emergency protective vaccination in bovine animals to prevent or control certain listed diseases. That Delegated Regulation also lays down the conditions under which the movements of vaccinated animals and products thereof may be allowed. Specific conditions for emergency protective vaccination against infection with lumpy skin disease virus are laid down in Annex IX to that Delegated Regulation.

(5)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2248 (6) lays down certain emergency measures relating to infection with lumpy skin disease virus in Spain. More particularly, Article 1, point (a), of that Implementing Decision requires the establishment of a restricted zone, comprising protection and surveillance zones, in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, in that Member State, which must comprise at least the areas listed in Annex I to that Implementing Decision. In addition, Article 1, point (b), of that Implementing Decision provides for the establishment in Spain of vaccination zones I and II, in accordance with Part I of Annex IX to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361, and under the conditions laid down therein. It also provides that those vaccination zones must comprise at least the areas listed as such in Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2248. Furthermore, Article 1, point (c), of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2248 provides that the measures required to be applied in the protection and surveillance zones, as well as in vaccination zones I and II, are to apply at least until the dates listed in the Annexes to that Implementing Decision.

(6)

Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2248 by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/552 (7), two additional outbreaks of infection with lumpy skin disease virus were confirmed in establishments keeping bovine animals in the province of Huesca, in the Autonomous Community of Aragón, on 2 and 3 March 2026. Following those outbreaks, Spain submitted an updated vaccination plan on 30 March 2026. That plan provides for the enlargement of vaccination zone I to include the entire province of Huesca, certain municipalities in the province of Zaragoza, and the remaining parts of the province of Lleida and of the Autonomous Community of Navarra not yet covered by that zone. In addition, a technical adaptation of the description of vaccination zone I was also made for reasons of clarity.

(7)

In light of the evolving epidemiological situation in Spain as regards infection with lumpy skin disease virus and the progress of the vaccination campaign, the vaccination zones I and II set out in Parts B and A of Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2248 should be amended accordingly.

(8)

In light of the current epidemiological situation in Spain, the amendments to be made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2248 by this Decision should apply as soon as possible in order to prevent the further spread of the disease within Spain, 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.

(9)

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