Prováděcí rozhodnutí Komise (EU) 2026/289 ze dne 3. února 2026, 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(2026) 732)

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) thereof,

The Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 are 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) 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 the 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 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 3 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, as amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1483Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1483 of 31 July 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2025/1483, 5.8.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1483/oj). , provides that Bulgaria shall apply the measures that are applicable to further restricted zones, as provided for in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, to the areas listed in Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, and in accordance with the dates set out in that Annex.

(5) Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2492Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2492 of 4 December 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2025/2492, 9.12.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/2492/oj). , Bulgaria has notified the Commission of continued delays, in the implementation of the disease control measures required to be applied in the event of official confirmation of an outbreak of a category A disease in kept animals in an establishment in accordance with Article 12 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. These delays concern 17 outbreaks confirmed in the region of Plovdiv.

(6) In light of the current epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria, and the urgent need to effectively mitigate the risk of the spread of that disease, both within that Member State and to other Member States, it is crucial to amend the duration of the disease control measures applicable in the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones listed in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 and in the areas listed in Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160. These amendments take into account the current epidemiological situation and address the risk posed by the potential spread of the disease beyond the currently affected areas as long as the disease control measures have not been completed.

(7) The Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(8) The duration of the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones is based on the criteria set out in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and on the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. In addition, the epidemiological situation regarding sheep pox and goat pox in the affected areas as well as the overall epidemiological situation of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria, and the level of risk for the further spread of that disease within that Member State and in the Union is taken into account. Also, the duration of the measures provided for by this Decision has been determined in line with the international standards set out in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/. .

(9) 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 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 1 Article 1

Article 2 Article 2

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) 2025/1483 of 31 July 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2025/1483, 5.8.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1483/oj).

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2492 of 4 December 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2025/2492, 9.12.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/2492/oj).

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: