Prováděcí rozhodnutí Komise (EU) 2026/462 ze dne 24. 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) 1318)

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,

Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 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) 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) Article 2, paragraph 1, of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, as amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2492,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, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/2492/oj). provides that Bulgaria shall prohibit, until the respective dates set out for the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones in Annex I, 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 movements of sheep and goats from a further restricted zone to any destination located outside the external perimeter of such further restricted zone. Article 2, paragraph 2, provides that Bulgaria shall 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. Article 2, paragraph 3, provides that Bulgaria shall prohibit movements of sheep and goats from any part of its territory to a destination located outside Bulgaria until 31 March 2026 .

(5) In addition, Article 3, first paragraph, 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. Article 3, second paragraph, provides that Bulgaria shall prohibit movements of sheep and goats from the areas listed in Annex II to a destination located outside the external perimeter of those areas until the dates set out in that Annex. Article 3, third paragraph, as amended by Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2492, provides that fresh meat and meat products obtained from sheep and goats slaughtered in a further restricted zone following an exceptional authorisation pursuant to the second paragraph of Article 2, paragraph 2, may only be moved and placed on the market within the territory of Bulgaria.

(6) Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/289Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/289 of 3 February 2026 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2026/289, 6.2.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/289/oj). , Bulgaria has notified the Commission of one new outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in an establishment where ovine and caprine animals were kept, located in the region of Plovdiv, on 2 February 2026 . In response, Bulgaria has established protection and surveillance zones in the region of Plovdiv, in which the disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are being applied.

(7) 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 update spatially the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in Bulgaria, currently set out in Annex I to the to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160. This amendment takes into account the current epidemiological situation and addresses the risk posed by the potential spread of the disease beyond the currently affected areas.

(8) Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(9) 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/. .

(10) 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) 2025/2492 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, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/2492/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) 2026/289 of 3 February 2026 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2026/289, 6.2.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/289/oj).

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: