(1)

African swine fever is an infectious viral disease affecting domestic and feral pig populations and can have a severe impact on the profitability of pig farming causing disturbance to trade within the Union and exports to third countries.

(2)

In the event of an outbreak of African swine fever, there is a risk that the disease agent might spread to other pig holdings and to feral pigs. As a result, it may spread from one Member State to another Member State and to third countries through trade in live pigs or their products.

(3)

Council Directive 2002/60/EC (3) lays down minimum measures to be applied within the Union for the control of African swine fever. Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC provides for the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in the event of outbreaks of that disease where the measures laid down in Articles 10 and 11 of that Directive are to apply.

(4)

Bulgaria has informed the Commission of the current African swine fever situation on its territory, and in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC, it has established protection and surveillance zones where the measures referred to in Articles 10 and 11 of that Directive are applied.

(5)

In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, it is necessary to describe at Union level the areas established as protection and surveillance zones for African swine fever in Bulgaria in collaboration with that Member State.

(6)

Accordingly, pending the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, the areas identified as protection and surveillance zones in Bulgaria should be set out in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that regionalisation fixed.

(7)

This Decision is to be reviewed at the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,