Prováděcí rozhodnutí Komise (EU) 2026/161 ze dne 20. ledna 2026, kterým se mění příloha prováděcího rozhodnutí (EU) 2023/2447 o mimořádných opatřeních v souvislosti s ohnisky vysoce patogenní influenzy ptáků v určitých členských státech (oznámeno pod číslem C(2026) 412)

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

The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

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

(1) Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is an infectious viral disease in birds and can have a severe impact on the profitability of poultry farming causing disturbance to trade within the Union and exports to third countries. HPAI viruses can infect migratory birds, which can then spread these viruses over long distances during their autumn and spring migrations. Therefore, the presence of HPAI viruses in wild birds poses a continuous threat for the direct and indirect introduction of these viruses into holdings where poultry or captive birds are kept. In the event of an outbreak of HPAI, there is a risk that the disease agent may spread to other holdings where poultry or captive birds are kept.

(2) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 establishes the legislative framework for the prevention and control of diseases that are transmissible to animals or humans. HPAI falls within the definition of a listed disease in that Regulation, and it is subject to the disease prevention and control rules laid down therein. In addition, 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 Regulation (EU) 2016/429 as regards the rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases, including HPAI. In particular, Article 21 of that Delegated Regulation provides that in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease in an establishment, the competent authority is to immediately establish a restricted zone comprising a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

(3) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 of 24 October 2023 concerning emergency measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L, 2023/2447, 30.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2023/2447/oj). was adopted on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and it lays down emergency measures at Union level in relation to outbreaks of HPAI.

(4) In particular, Article 2, point (a), Article 3, point (a), and Article 4, point (a) of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 provide, respectively, that following outbreaks of HPAI, the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones to be established in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, by the competent authorities of the Member States listed in the Annex thereto, must comprise at least the areas listed as protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones in that Annex. Article 2, point (b), Article 3, point (b), and Article 4, point (b) of Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 also provide that the measures to be applied in those protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones, in accordance with that Delegated Regulation, must be maintained until at least the dates set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(5) The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 was recently amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/107Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/107 of 12 January 2026 amending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 concerning emergency measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L, 2026/107, 14.1.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/107/oj. following outbreaks of HPAI in Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden in establishments where poultry or captive birds were kept, which needed to be reflected in that Annex.

(6) Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/107, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland have notified the Commission of new outbreaks of HPAI in those Member States in establishments where poultry or captive birds were kept. In particular, the notifications concerned four outbreaks in poultry in the West-Vlaanderen region in Belgium, one outbreak in poultry in the Capital region in Denmark, two outbreaks in poultry in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany, one outbreak in captive birds in the country of Hiiu in Estonia, one outbreak in poultry in the province of Lleida in Spain, one outbreak in captive birds in the department of Indre-et-Loire, and three outbreaks in poultry in the departments of Allier, Deux-Sèvres, and Loire-Atlantique in France, one outbreak in poultry in the Veneto region in Italy, three outbreaks in poultry in the Csongrád-Csanád and Nógrád counties in Hungary, one outbreak in poultry in the province of Flevoland in the Netherlands, and one outbreak in captive birds in the Wielkopolskie voivodeship, and 11 outbreaks in poultry in the Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Łódzkie, Mazowieckie, Podlaskie, and Wielkopolskie voivodeships in Poland.

(7) Following those 30 new outbreaks, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland have taken the disease control measures required in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, including the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the outbreaks.

(8) In addition, three outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the West-Vlaanderen region in Belgium are located in close proximity to the border with France. As the protection and surveillance zones for those outbreaks in Belgium extend into the territory of France, the competent authority of France has duly collaborated with the competent authority of Belgium to establish the necessary protection and surveillance zones, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(9) The Commission has examined the disease control measures taken by Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland, and it is satisfied that the boundaries of the protection and surveillances zones established by those Member States are at a sufficient distance from the establishments where the outbreaks of HPAI have been confirmed.

(10) In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid any unjustified disruptions to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to rapidly lay down at Union level, in collaboration with Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland, the protection and surveillance zones established by those Member States, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(11) Therefore, the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones for Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 should be amended, to take account of the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones established by those Member States, following the new HPAI outbreaks therein, as well as the required duration of the measures to be applied in those zones, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(12) In the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, there are currently no areas listed as protection and surveillance zones for Estonia.

(13) Therefore, the areas concerned should now be listed as protection and surveillance zones for Estonia, in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447, to take account of the boundaries of the protection and surveillance zones established by that Member State, following the recent HPAI outbreak in captive birds on its territory, as well as the required duration of the measures to be applied in those zones, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687.

(14) The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(15) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of HPAI, it is important that the amendments to be made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 by this Decision 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,

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

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 1 Article 1

Article 2 Article 2

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 of 24 October 2023 concerning emergency measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L, 2023/2447, 30.10.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2023/2447/oj).

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/107 of 12 January 2026 amending the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2447 concerning emergency measures in relation to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain Member States (OJ L, 2026/107, 14.1.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/107/oj.

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: