Prováděcí rozhodnutí Komise (EU) 2026/1366 ze dne 12. června 2026, kterým se mění prováděcí rozhodnutí (EU) 2024/2207 o některých mimořádných opatřeních v souvislosti s neštovicemi ovcí a neštovicemi koz v Řecku (oznámeno pod číslem C(2026)4103)

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,

Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 is amended as follows:

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. Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise 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) 2024/2207Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 of 29 August 2024 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Greece (OJ L, 2024/2207, 30.8.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/2207/oj). was adopted following outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Greece, and it lays down certain emergency measures to be taken by that Member State. More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 provides that the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones to be established by that Member State, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. It also provides that the measures required to be applied in those zones are to be applied at least until the dates listed in that Annex.

(4) Since the outbreaks that led to the last amendmentCommission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1191 of 28 May 2026 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Greece (OJ L, 2026/1191, 2.6.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1191/oj). of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 were notified to the Commission, Greece has notified the Commission of six outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where caprine or ovine animals were kept. These outbreaks, which were reported between 23 May and 8 June 2026 , concern the regional units of Aetolia-Acarnania, Arkadia, Ilia, and Serres. Two of those new outbreaks are located outside the restricted zones that were already established as a result of previous outbreaks, namely in the regional unit of Arkadia, where the disease had not been previously reported.

(5) Therefore, the areas listed as protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones for Greece in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207, as well as the duration of the measures applicable therein, should be adjusted to take account of the new outbreaks. Accordingly, it is necessary to amend the list of restricted zones, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein, set out in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.

(6) 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 the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. The criteria applied for the choice of the size and the number 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 the Member State concerned by that disease, as well as the level of risk for the further spread of the disease. In addition, 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/. .

(7) In addition, in view of the continuous spread of sheep pox and goat pox across Greece it is necessary to prolong the prohibition, laid down in Article 3, points (a) and (b), of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207, on the movements of caprine or ovine animals from, to and within the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones. However, summer seasonal movements of caprine or ovine animals from a surveillance zone to a pasture located within the same surveillance zone, and from a further restricted zone to pasture located within the same further restricted zone, should be made possible in line with Article 45 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and subject to compliance with the conditions thereof.

(8) Also, the movement of caprine or ovine animals from a further restricted zone to a pasture in another further restricted zone may be permitted only if those further restricted zones are contiguous, thereby ensuring that caprine or ovine animals are only moved through those further restricted zones.

(9) In addition, in order to minimise the risk of the further spread of the disease, it is also necessary to prolong the prohibition, laid down in Article 3 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207, on the movements of caprine or ovine animals from the territory of Greece to a destination located outside Greece until 31 December 2026 .

(10) 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 the disease from further spreading from the affected establishments in Greece to other parts of that Member State or to any other Member States, it is appropriate that the measures laid down in this Implementing Decision apply as soon as possible.

(1) in Article 3, point (b), the introductory wording is replaced by the following:movements of ovine or caprine animals from protection and surveillance zones to a destination located within the external perimeter of the immediately surrounding further restricted zone, from a further restricted zone to a destination located within the external perimeter of this further restricted zone, from a surveillance zone to a destination located within the same surveillance zone and from a further restricted zone to a destination located within a contiguous further restricted zone, shall only be permitted under the following conditions:;

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

(2) in Article 3(b), point (iii) is replaced by the following:(iii) the animals are moved:directly to a slaughterhouse located within the external perimeter of the same further restricted zone as the establishment of origin, for the purpose of immediate slaughter, until the dates listed for each such protection, surveillance and further restricted zone in the Annex, or during the summer season, from an establishment located within a surveillance zone directly to a pasture located within the external perimeter of the same surveillance zone, and are returned from that pasture to the establishment of origin, in accordance with Article 45, paragraph 1, of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, or during the summer season, from an establishment located within a further restricted zone directly to a pasture located within the external perimeter of the same further restricted zone, or to a pasture located within a contiguous further restricted zone and are returned from that pasture to the establishment of origin.;

(iii) the animals are moved:directly to a slaughterhouse located within the external perimeter of the same further restricted zone as the establishment of origin, for the purpose of immediate slaughter, until the dates listed for each such protection, surveillance and further restricted zone in the Annex, or during the summer season, from an establishment located within a surveillance zone directly to a pasture located within the external perimeter of the same surveillance zone, and are returned from that pasture to the establishment of origin, in accordance with Article 45, paragraph 1, of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, or during the summer season, from an establishment located within a further restricted zone directly to a pasture located within the external perimeter of the same further restricted zone, or to a pasture located within a contiguous further restricted zone and are returned from that pasture to the establishment of origin.;

directly to a slaughterhouse located within the external perimeter of the same further restricted zone as the establishment of origin, for the purpose of immediate slaughter, until the dates listed for each such protection, surveillance and further restricted zone in the Annex, or

during the summer season, from an establishment located within a surveillance zone directly to a pasture located within the external perimeter of the same surveillance zone, and are returned from that pasture to the establishment of origin, in accordance with Article 45, paragraph 1, of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, or

during the summer season, from an establishment located within a further restricted zone directly to a pasture located within the external perimeter of the same further restricted zone, or to a pasture located within a contiguous further restricted zone and are returned from that pasture to the establishment of origin.;

(3) in Article 3, point (e), the date 30 June 2026 is replaced by 31 December 2026 ;

(4) in Article 4, the date 30 June 2026 is replaced by 31 December 2026 ;

(5) the Annex is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.

This Decision is addressed to the Hellenic Republic.

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) 2024/2207 of 29 August 2024 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Greece (OJ L, 2024/2207, 30.8.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/2207/oj).

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1191 of 28 May 2026 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Greece (OJ L, 2026/1191, 2.6.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1191/oj).

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: