COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION
of 28 August 2014
amending the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU as regards the areas under restriction for African swine fever in certain Member States
(notified under document C(2014) 6169)
(Text with EEA relevance)
(2014/637/EU)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market (1), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market (2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption (3), and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Commission Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU (4) lays down animal health control measures in relation to African swine fever in certain Member States. The Annex to that Decision demarcates and lists certain areas differentiated by the level of risk based on the epidemiological situation. That list includes certain areas of Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
(2)
Since the beginning of August 2014, several new outbreaks in domestic pigs were reported near the Latvian border with third countries as well as near the border with Estonia. Cases in feral pigs were found in Latvia in areas currently outside the scope of Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU. In addition, since the beginning of August 2014, several new outbreaks occurred in domestic pigs in Lithuania and in Poland. The number, the size and the location of the outbreaks reveal a change in the distribution of the disease.
(3)
The evolution of the current epidemiological situation should be considered in the assessment of the risk represented by the animal health situation in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and in neighbouring third countries. In order to focus animal health control measures and to prevent the spread of African swine fever as well as to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, the Union list of areas subject to the animal health control measures provided for in Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU should be amended to take into account the current animal health situation as regards that disease in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland and in neighbouring third countries.
(4)
It is therefore necessary to replace the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU to include the relevant areas of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
(5)
Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU should therefore be amended accordingly.
(6)
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 Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU is replaced by the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 28 August 2014.