Prováděcí rozhodnutí Komise (EU) 2025/2492 ze dne 4. prosince 2025, kterým se mění prováděcí rozhodnutí (EU) 2025/1160 o některých mimořádných opatřeních v souvislosti s neštovicemi ovcí a neštovicemi koz v Bulharsku (oznámeno pod číslem C(2025) 8530)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Article 2 Article 2

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)OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj. , and in particular Article 259(1) thereof,

OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj.

(1) Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease affecting caprine and ovine animals, and it can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming 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 sheep pox and goat pox in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments keeping those animals.

(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687Commission 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). 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) 2018/1882Commission 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). . 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 sheep pox and goat pox, 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 a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, a further restricted zone around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

(3) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 of 5 June 2025 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 (OJ L, 2025/1160, 10.6.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1160/oj). was adopted following outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria, and it lays down emergency measures to be taken by that Member State. More particularly, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 provides that the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones to be established by Bulgaria, in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in Parts A and B of Annex I to that Implementing Decision. It also provides that the emergency measures required to be applied in those protection, surveillance and further restricted zones are to be applied until at least the dates listed in Parts A and B of that Annex.

(4) In addition, Article 2, point (a) of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 provides that Bulgaria is to prohibit movements of caprine and ovine animals from the protection and surveillance zones to a destination located outside the external perimeter of the immediately surrounding further restricted zone, and from a further restricted zone to a destination located outside the external perimeter of this further restricted zone, including destinations located in a different further restricted zone, as set out in Part B of Annex I to that Implementing Decision, until the dates listed for each such protection, surveillance and further restricted zone in that Annex.

(5) Also, Article 2, point (b), of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 provides that Bulgaria is to prohibit movements of caprine and ovine animals from those parts of the territory of that Member State that are not listed in Annex I, to a destination located within the external perimeter of a further restricted zone, until all protection zones within this external perimeter have been lifted in accordance with the dates set out in that Annex.

(6) In line with Article 23 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, Bulgaria requested from the Commission the possibility to derogate from Article 2, point (b), of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, to authorise the movement of caprine and ovine animals from parts of the territory of Bulgaria that are not listed in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 to a slaughterhouse that is located within the external perimeter of a further restricted zone in Bulgaria for immediate slaughter.

(7) Bulgaria is required to conduct a thorough risk assessment prior to authorising any movement of caprine and ovine animals to a further restricted zone. This assessment ensures that only animals meeting strict criteria are moved, and appropriate preventive and control measures are applied. Therefore, the movement of caprine and ovine animals from parts of the territory of Bulgaria that are not listed in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 to a slaughterhouse that is located within the external perimeter of a further restricted zone in Bulgaria for immediate slaughter creates a negligible risk for the spread of sheep pox and goat pox.

(8) It should therefore be possible for the competent authority of Bulgaria to authorise movements of caprine and ovine animals for immediate slaughter from the parts of the territory of Bulgaria that are not listed in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 to a slaughterhouse located within the external perimeter of a further restricted zone. Article 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(9) The fresh meat and meat products obtained from caprine and ovine animals kept in areas outside a further restricted zone, and slaughtered in a further restricted zone shall only be moved within the territory of Bulgaria.

(10) Furthermore, Article 3 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 provides that Bulgaria should apply the measures which are applicable to further restricted zones, as provided for in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, in the areas listed in Annex II to that Implementing Decision, until the dates set out in that Annex. It also prohibits movements of caprine and ovine animals from the areas listed in Annex II thereto to a destination located outside the external perimeter of those areas until the dates set out in that Annex.

(11) Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2372 of 20 November 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2025/2372, 25.11.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/2372/oj). , Bulgaria has notified the Commission of one additional outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox, between 11 and 18 November 2025 , in an establishment where ovine animals were kept, located in the region of Plovdiv.

(12) Taking into account the current epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria, there is a high risk for the further spread of that disease, in particular due to the fact that, according to the information provided by that Member State, a new outbreak occurred in a region already affected by the disease suggesting that the disease continues to circulate in the existing restricted zones.

(13) Therefore, the restricted zones, comprising protection, surveillance and further restricted zones in Bulgaria, set out in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 should be adjusted, both spatially and temporally, in order to prevent the further spread of sheep pox and goat pox in the territory of Bulgaria, and to the rest of the Union. Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(14) The size of the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein, is 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, surveillance, and further restricted 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 sheep pox and goat pox in the areas affected by that disease, but also of the overall epidemiological situation of sheep pox and goat pox in the entire territory of Bulgaria, and of the level of risk for the further spread of the disease. For the determination of the duration of the measures the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Healthhttps://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/terrestrial-code-online-access/. have also been taken into account.

(15) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of sheep pox and goat pox, and the need to prevent that disease from spreading from the affected establishments in Bulgaria to other parts of that Member State or to other Member States, the amendments to be made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, by this Decision, should take effect as soon as possible.

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

Bulgaria shall prohibit, until the dates set out for the respective protection, surveillance or further restricted zones in Annex I:

(a) movements of sheep and goats from the protection and surveillance zones to a destination located outside the external perimeter of a further restricted zone immediately surrounding those protection and surveillance zones; and

(b) movements of sheep and goats from a further restricted zone to any destination located outside the external perimeter of this further restricted zone.

Bulgaria shall also prohibit, until the end of the time when protection zones must be established within the external perimeter of a further restricted zone, movements of sheep and goats from those parts of the territory of Bulgaria that are not listed as a protection, surveillance or further restricted zone in Annex I to a destination located within the external perimeter of such further restricted zone.

The competent authority of Bulgaria may exceptionally authorise movements of sheep and goats from those parts of the territory of Bulgaria that are not listed in Annex I to a slaughterhouse located within the external perimeter of a further restricted zone in Bulgaria, provided that:

(i) The animals are moved directly to the slaughterhouse, and for immediate slaughter; and that

(ii) The competent authority has carried out a risk assessment which indicates that the risks deriving from the authorisation are negligible.

Bulgaria shall also prohibit movements of sheep and goats from any part of its territory to a destination located outside Bulgaria until 31 March 2026 .

This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Bulgaria.

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).

Article 2 Article 2 (1)Bulgaria shall prohibit, until the dates set out for the respective protection, surveillance or further restricted zones in Annex I: (a) movements of sheep and goats from the protection and surveillance zones to a destination located outside the external perimeter of a further restricted zone immediately surrounding those protection and surveillance zones; and(b) movements of sheep and goats from a further restricted zone to any destination located outside the external perimeter of this further restricted zone. (2)Bulgaria shall also prohibit, until the end of the time when protection zones must be established within the external perimeter of a further restricted zone, movements of sheep and goats from those parts of the territory of Bulgaria that are not listed as a protection, surveillance or further restricted zone in Annex I to a destination located within the external perimeter of such further restricted zone. The competent authority of Bulgaria may exceptionally authorise movements of sheep and goats from those parts of the territory of Bulgaria that are not listed in Annex I to a slaughterhouse located within the external perimeter of a further restricted zone in Bulgaria, provided that: (i) The animals are moved directly to the slaughterhouse, and for immediate slaughter; and that(ii) The competent authority has carried out a risk assessment which indicates that the risks deriving from the authorisation are negligible. (3)Bulgaria shall also prohibit movements of sheep and goats from any part of its territory to a destination located outside Bulgaria until 31 March 2026 .

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).

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 of 5 June 2025 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 (OJ L, 2025/1160, 10.6.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1160/oj).

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2372 of 20 November 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2025/2372, 25.11.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/2372/oj).

https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/terrestrial-code-online-access/.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 is amended as follows: