Commission Implementing Decision

of 9 October 2014

concerning animal health control measures relating to African swine fever in certain Member States and repealing Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU

(notified under document C(2014) 7222)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2014/709/EU)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Directive 89/662/EEC of 11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market(1), and in particular Article 9(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/425/EEC of 26 June 1990 concerning veterinary and zootechnical checks applicable in intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products with a view to the completion of the internal market(2), and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption(3), and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Council Directive 2002/60/EC(4) lays down the minimum measures to be applied within the Union for the control of African swine fever, including the measures to be taken in the event of an outbreak of African swine fever on a pig holding and in cases where African swine fever is suspected or confirmed in feral pigs. Those measures include plans to be developed and implemented by Member States, and approved by the Commission, for the eradication of African swine fever from a feral pig population.

(2) African swine fever is present in Sardinia, Italy since 1978, and has since 2014 been introduced in other Member States situated in Eastern Europe including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland from neighbouring third countries where that disease is widely present.

(3) In order to focus the control measures and to prevent disease spread as well as any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, the concerned Member States urgently established infected areas and areas at risk for infection that were defined at Union level in collaboration with the Member States concerned by means of Commission Implementing Decisions that were consolidated by Commission Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU(5). That Decision also lays down animal health control measures on the movement, dispatch of pigs and certain pig products and marking of pigmeat from the areas set out in the Annex to that Decision in order to prevent the spread of that disease to other areas of the Union.

(4) Commission Decision 2005/362/EC(6) approved a plan submitted by Italy to the Commission for the eradication of African swine fever in feral pigs in Sardinia and Commission Implementing Decision 2014/442/EU(7) approved the plans for the eradication of African swine fever in feral pigs in certain areas of Lithuania and Poland.

(5) African swine fever can be considered an endemic disease in the domestic and feral pig populations of certain third countries bordering the Union and represents a permanent threat for the Union.

(6) The disease situation is liable to endanger the pig herds in unaffected areas of the Member States currently concerned by the disease namely Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland well as pig herds in other Member States, notably in view of trade in commodities from porcine animals.

(7) Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have taken measures to combat African swine fever within the framework of Directive 2002/60/EC and Estonia and Latvia are due to submit their plans for the eradication of African swine fever in feral pigs to the Commission for approval in accordance with Article 16 of that Directive.

(8) It is appropriate that the Member States and areas concerned are listed in an Annex differentiated by the level of risk. The different parts of the Annex should consider the epidemiological situation of African swine fever including whether it concerns both pigs holdings and the feral pig population (Part III and IV), only the feral pig population (Part II) or the risk is due to certain proximity to the infection in the feral population (Part I). In particular it should be differentiated whether the epidemiological situation has been stabilised and the disease has become endemic (Part IV) or the situation is still dynamic with uncertain evolution (Part III). However, the classification of Member States' territories or parts thereof as Parts I, II, III and IV according to the swine population concerned may need to be adapted by taking into account additional risk factors due to the local epidemiological situation and its evolution, especially in newly infected areas where less experience on the disease epidemiology under different ecological systems is available.

(9) In terms of risk of spread of African swine fever, movements of different porcine commodities pose different levels of risk. As a general rule the movement of live pigs, their semen, ova and embryos and animal by-products of porcine origin from infected areas pose higher risks in terms of exposure and consequences than the movement of meat, meat preparations and meat products as indicated in the Scientific Opinion of the European Food Safety Authority of 2010(8). Therefore, the dispatch of live pigs and their semen, ova and embryos, animal by-products of porcine origin as well as the dispatch of certain meat, meat preparations and meat products from certain areas in Member States listed in Parts I, II, III and IV of the Annex to this Decision should be prohibited. This prohibition includes all Suidae as referred to in Council Directive 92/65/EEC(9).

(10) In order to take account of the different risk levels depending on the type of porcine commodities and the epidemiological situation in the Member States and areas concerned, it is appropriate to provide for certain derogations for each type of porcine commodity from the territories listed in the different parts of the Annex hereto. Those derogations are also in line with the risk mitigation measures for importation as regards African swine fever indicated in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organization for Animal Health. The additional safeguard measures and animal health requirements or treatments of the respective commodities applicable in case such derogations are granted should also be provided for in this Decision.

(11) Due to the current epidemiological situation and for precautionary reasons the concerned Member States, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, have established new areas of a sufficient and appropriate size as described as Parts I, II and III of the Annex to this Decision that are adapted to the current epidemiological situation and where adequate restrictions for movements of live pigs, semen, ova and embryos and fresh pig meat and certain pig products apply. The situation as regards African swine fever in Sardinia, Italy, differs from that in other Member States due to the long lasting endemicity of the disease in this part of the Italian territory and the insular geographic location; it is therefore deemed necessary to have Part IV in the Annex to this Decision to continue covering the whole territory of Sardinia in Italy.

(12) The veterinary restrictions currently applicable are particularly stringent for the areas listed in Part III of the Annex to this Decision and which therefore may lead to logistic and animal welfare problems in case the slaughtering of pigs in the respective areas is not possible, in particular due to the absence of an appropriate slaughterhouse or limitations in slaughtering capacity within the relevant areas listed in Part III.

(13) The movement of live pigs for immediate slaughter poses less risk than other types of movements of live pigs provided that risk mitigation measures are in place. It is therefore appropriate that when the above described circumstances concur the Member States concerned may exceptionally grant derogations for the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex for immediate slaughter to a slaughterhouse located outside that area in the same Member State provided that rigorous conditions are met in order not to jeopardise disease control.

(14) Council Directive 64/432/EEC(10) and Commission Decision 93/444/EEC(11) provide that health certificates are to accompany the movements of animals. Where derogations from the prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision are applied to live pigs intended for intra-Union trade or for export to a third country, those health certificates should include a reference to this Decision so to ensure that adequate and accurate health information is provided in the relevant certificates.

(15) Commission Regulation (EC) No 599/2004(12) provides that health certificates are to accompany the movements of certain products of animal origin. In order to prevent the spread of African swine fever to other areas of the Union, where a Member State is subject to a prohibition on the dispatch of fresh pigmeat, meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing pigmeat from certain parts of its territory, certain requirements should be laid down, in particular as regards certification, for the dispatch of such meat, meat preparations and meat products from other areas of the territory of that Member State not subject to that prohibition and those health certificates should include a reference to this Decision.

(16) In addition, it is appropriate, in order to prevent the spread of African swine fever to other areas of the Union and to third countries, to provide that the dispatch of fresh pigmeat, meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing meat of pigs from Member States with the areas listed in the Annex, is subject to certain more stringent conditions. In particular, such fresh pigmeat, meat preparations and pigmeat products should be marked with special marks which cannot be confused with the identification mark provided for in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council(13) and with the health marks for pigmeat provided for in Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council(14).

(17) The period of application of the measures provided for in this Decision should take account of the epidemiology of African swine fever and the conditions to regain the African swine fever free status according to the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organization for Animal Health and therefore this period should last at least until 31 December 2018.

(18) For reasons of clarity Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU should therefore be repealed and replaced by this Decision.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1U.K.Subject matter and scope

[F1This Decision lays down animal health control measures in relation to African swine fever in the Member States or areas thereof as set out in the Annex (the Member States concerned), and in all Member States as regards movements of feral pigs and information obligations.]

It shall apply without prejudice to the plans for the eradication of African swine fever from feral pig populations in the Member State concerned, approved by the Commission in accordance with Article 16 of Directive 2002/60/EC.

Article 2U.K.Prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs, porcine semen, ova and embryo, pig meat, pig meat preparations, pig meat products and any other products containing pig meat as well as consignments of animal by-products from porcine animals from certain areas listed in the Annex

The Member States concerned shall prohibit:

(a)

the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex;

(b)

the dispatch of consignments of porcine semen, ova and embryos from the areas listed in Parts III and IV of the Annex;

(c)

the dispatch of consignments of pig meat, pig meat preparations, pig meat products and any other products containing such meat from the areas listed in Parts III and IV of the Annex;

(d)

the dispatch of consignments of animal by-products from porcine animals from the areas listed in Parts III and IV of the Annex.

Article 3U.K.Derogation from the prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in Part II of the Annex

[F2By way of derogation from the prohibition provided for in point (a) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of live pigs from a holding located in the areas listed in Part II of the Annex to other areas in the territory of the same Member State or to areas listed in Part II or III of the Annex of another Member State provided that:]

1.

[F3the pigs have been resident for a period of at least 30 days, or since birth, on the holding and no live pigs have been introduced from the areas listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex during a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of the movement into:

(a)

that holding; or

(b)

the production unit where the pigs to be dispatched under this Article are kept; the production unit may only be defined by the competent authority provided that the official veterinarian confirms that the structure, size and distance between the production units and the operations carried out there are such that the production units provide completely separate facilities for housing, keeping and feeding, so that the virus cannot spread from one production unit to another, and]

2.

[F4the pigs have been subjected to a pathogen identification test for African swine fever, carried out with negative results on samples taken in accordance with the sampling procedures as laid down in the plan for the eradication of African swine fever referred to in the second paragraph of Article 1 of this Decision within a period of 7 days prior to the date of the movement and a clinical examination for African swine fever has been carried out on each consignment of pigs by an official veterinarian in accordance with the checking and sampling procedures laid down in Part A of Chapter IV of the Annex to Commission Decision 2003/422/EC (15) within the 24-hour period prior to the movement of the pigs, or]

3.

the pigs come from a holding:

(a)

that has been subjected at least twice a year, with an interval of at least 4 months, to inspections by the competent veterinary authority, which:

(i)

followed the guidelines and procedures laid down in Chapter IV of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC;

(ii)

[F4included a clinical examination of the pigs in the holding in accordance with the checking and sampling procedures laid down in Part A of Chapter IV of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC;]

(iii)

checked the effective application of the measures provided for in the second indent and in the fourth to seventh indents of Article 15(2)(b) of Directive 2002/60/EC;

(b)

[F4that implements bio-security requirements for African swine fever as established by the competent authority and ensures that at least the first two dead pigs over the age of 60 days in each production unit each week have been subjected to a pathogen identification test for African swine fever that complies with the general procedures and criteria for the collection and transport of samples laid down in Chapter V of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC,]

4.

[F5for live pigs dispatched to areas listed in Part II or III of the Annex of another Member State, the following additional requirements shall apply:

(a)

[F4the pigs comply with any other appropriate animal health guarantees based on a positive outcome of a risk assessment of measures against the spread of African swine fever required by the competent authority of the Member State of the place of origin, and approved by the competent authorities of the Member States of the places of transit and of destination, prior to the movement of the pigs; however, the approval by the competent authorities of the Member States of the places of transit and of destination shall not be required when the places of origin, transit and destination of the pigs are all listed areas in the Annex and are continuous, thereby ensuring that the pigs are only moved through areas listed in the Annex.

(b)

the Member State of the place of origin immediately informs the Commission and the other Member States of the animal health guarantees and of the approval by the competent authorities referred to in the point (a), and authorises a list of holdings that comply with those animal health guarantees; however, that information from the Member State of origin shall not be required when the places of origin, transit and destination of the pigs are all listed areas in the Annex and are continuous, thereby ensuring that the pigs are only moved through areas that are listed in the Annex.]

(c)

a channelling procedure in accordance with Article 16a is set up, under the control of the competent authorities of the Member States of origin, transit and destination, in order to ensure that the animals, moved in accordance with the additional requirements provided for in point (a) are transported in a safe manner and are not subsequently moved to another Member State.

(d)

For live pigs that comply with the additional requirements of point 4 of this Article, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificate for swine referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 64/432/EEC:

Pigs in compliance with Article 3 of Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. ]

[F5Article 3a U.K. Derogation from the prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex

By way of derogation from the prohibition provided for in point (a) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex to other areas listed in Parts II in the territory of the same Member State or to areas listed in Part II or III of the Annex of another Member State, provided that:

1.

the pigs are from a holding with an appropriate level of biosecurity approved by the competent authority, the holding is under the supervision of the competent authority, and the pigs comply with the requirements laid down in point 1 of Article 3 and in either point 2 or point 3 of Article 3;

2.

the pigs are located in the centre of an area of at least three km radius in which all animals in the holdings comply with the requirements laid down in point 1 of Article 3 and in either point 2 or point 3 of Article 3;

3.

the competent authority of the holding of dispatch must inform in due time the competent authority of the holding of destination of the intention to send the pigs and the competent authority of the holding of destination must notify the competent authority of the holding of dispatch of the arrival of the pigs;

4.

the transport of the pigs within and through areas outside of the areas listed in Part III of the Annex must be carried out along predefined transport routes and the vehicles used for transporting the pigs must be cleaned, if necessary disinsectised and disinfected as soon as possible after unloading;

5.

for live pigs dispatched to areas listed in Part II or III of the Annex of another Member State, the following additional requirements shall apply:

(a)

the pigs comply with any other appropriate animal health guarantees based on a positive outcome of a risk assessment of measures against the spread of African swine fever required by the competent authority of the Member State of origin and approved by the competent authority of the Member State of the place of transit and the competent authority of the Member State of destination, prior to the movement of such animals;

(b)

the Member State of the place of origin immediately informs the Commission and the other Member States of the animal health guarantees and the approval by the competent authorities referred to in the point (a) and authorises a list of holdings that comply with animal health guarantees;

(c)

a channelling procedure in accordance with Article 16a is set up, under the control of the competent authorities of the Member States of origin, transit and destination, in order to ensure that the animals, moved in accordance with the additional requirements provided for in point (a), are transported in a safe manner and are not subsequently moved to another Member State;

(d)

for the live pigs that comply with all conditions of this Article, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificate for swine referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 64/432/EEC:

Pigs in compliance with Article 3a of Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. ]

[F6Article 3b U.K. Derogation from the prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in Part II of the Annex for the purpose of immediate slaughter

By way of derogation from the prohibition provided for in point (a) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of live pigs for the purpose of immediate slaughter from a holding located in the areas listed in Part II of the Annex (the holding of dispatch) to other areas in the territory of the same Member State provided that:

(a)

prior to dispatch, the pigs have been resident on the holding of dispatch for a period of at least 30 days or since birth;

(b)

the pigs comply with the requirements laid down in either point 2 or 3 of Article 3;

(c)

all the pigs in the holding of dispatch originate only from a single, separate breeding holding located in the areas listed in either Part I or II of the Annex in the territory of the same Member State (the breeding holding);

(d)

the competent authority has granted prior authorisation for the movement of the pigs from the breeding holding to the holding of dispatch, based on a risk assessment related to the risk mitigation measures in place in both the breeding holding and the holding of dispatch;

(e)

both the holding of dispatch and the breeding holding have a common biosecurity plan approved in advance by the competent authority;

(f)

the competent authority checks regularly, and at least once every 3 months, the implementation of the common biosecurity plan referred to in point (e);

(g)

the consignment of pigs is transported for immediate slaughter directly, without stopping or unloading, to a slaughterhouse approved in accordance with Article 12 and specifically designated by the competent authority for that purpose;

(h)

the competent authority has been notified in advance of the intention to send the consignment of live pigs to the slaughterhouse for immediate slaughter;

(i)

the transport of the consignment of live pigs to the slaughterhouse within and through areas located outside of the areas listed in Part II of the Annex is carried out along transport routes specified in advance and the vehicles used for such transportation are cleaned, disinfected and, if necessary, disinsected as soon as possible after unloading;

(j)

each truck and any other vehicles that are used for the transport of the consignment of live pigs has been individually registered with the competent authority for that purpose;

(k)

the competent authority is systematically informed of any dispatch and arrival of consignments of live pigs from the breeding holding to the holding of dispatch;

(l)

surveillance in both the holding of dispatch and the breeding holding is reinforced by the application to all pigs older than 4 months of the procedures set out in point 4 of Part A of Chapter IV of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC.]

Article 4U.K.Derogation from the prohibition on the dispatch of consignments of live pigs for immediate slaughter from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex and the dispatch of consignments of pig meat, pig meat preparations and pig meat products obtained from such pigs

[F2By way of derogation from the prohibitions provided for in points (a) and (c) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch for immediate slaughter of live pigs from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex to other areas in the territory of the same Member State or to areas listed in Part II or III of the Annex of another Member State in case there are logistic limitations in the slaughter capacity of the slaughterhouses approved by the competent authority in accordance with Article 12 located in the areas listed in Part III of the Annex, provided that:]

1.

the pigs have been resident for a period of at least 30 days or since birth on the holding and no live pigs have been introduced into that holding from the areas listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex during a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of the movement;

2.

the pigs comply with the requirements laid down in paragraph 1 and in paragraph 2 or paragraph 3 of Article 3;

3.

the pigs are transported for immediate slaughter directly, without stopping or unloading, to a slaughterhouse approved in accordance with Article 12 and specifically designated by the competent authority for that purpose;

4.

the competent authority responsible for the slaughterhouse has been informed by the dispatching competent authority of the intention to send the pigs and notifies the dispatching competent authority of their arrival;

5.

[F3on arrival at the slaughterhouse, these pigs are kept and slaughtered separately from other pigs and are slaughtered on a specific day in which only these pigs from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex are slaughtered or at the end of a slaughter day during which no other pigs are slaughtered thereafter;]

6.

the transport of the pigs to the slaughterhouse within and through areas outside of the areas listed in Part III of the Annex is carried out along predefined transport routes and the vehicles used for transporting those pigs are cleaned, if necessary disinsectised, disinfected as soon as possible after unloading;

7.

the Member States concerned ensures that the fresh pig meat, pig meat preparations and pig meat products obtained from those pigs:

(a)

are produced, stored and processed in establishments approved in accordance with Article 12;

(b)

are marked in accordance with Article 16;

(c)

are only marketed on the territory of that Member State;

8.

the Member States concerned ensures that the animal by-products from those pigs are subjected to a treatment in a channelled system approved by the competent authority which ensures that the derived product obtained from those pigs poses no risks as regards African swine fever;

9.

the Member States concerned immediately informs the Commission of the granting of the derogation according to this Article and notifies the name(s) and address(es) of the slaughterhouse(s) approved under this Article[F2;]

10.

[F5for live pigs dispatched to areas listed in Part II or III of the Annex of another Member State, the following additional requirements shall apply:

(a)

the pigs comply with any other appropriate animal health guarantees based on a positive outcome of a risk assessment of measures against the spread of African swine fever required by the competent authority of the Member State of the place of origin and approved by the competent authority of the Member State of transit and the competent authority of the Member State of destination, prior to the movement of such animals;

(b)

the Member State of the place of origin shall immediately inform the Commission and the other Member States of the animal health guarantees and the approval by the competent authorities referred to in point (a) and authorises a list of holdings complying with animal health guarantees;

(c)

a channelling procedure in accordance with Article 16a is set up, under the control of the competent authorities of the Member States of origin, transit and destination, in order to ensure that the animals, moved in accordance with the additional requirements provided for in point (a), are transported in a safe manner and are not subsequently moved to another Member State;

(d)

for live pigs that comply with all conditions of this Article, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding health certificate for swine referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 64/432/EEC:

Pigs in compliance with Article 4 of Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. ]

Article 5U.K.Derogation from the prohibition on the dispatch of consignments of pig meat, pig meat preparations, pig meat products and any other products consisting of or containing pig meat from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex

By way of derogation from the prohibition provided for in point (c) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of pig meat, pig meat preparations, pig meat products and any other products consisting of or containing pig meat, from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex provided they are either:

(a)

derived from pigs which have been kept since birth in holdings located outside the areas listed in Parts II, III or IV of the Annex, and the pig meat, pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of, or containing such meat, have been produced, stored and processed in establishments approved in accordance with Article 12; or

(b)

derived from pigs that comply with the requirements laid down in paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 or paragraph 3 of Article 3 and the pig meat, pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of, or containing such meat, have been produced, stored and processed in establishments approved in accordance with Article 12; or

(c)

have been produced and processed in accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive 2002/99/EC in establishments approved in accordance with Article 12.

Article 6U.K.Derogation from the prohibition on the dispatch of consignments of pig meat, pig meat preparations, pig meat products and any other products consisting of or containing pig meat from the areas listed in Part IV of the Annex

By way of derogation from the prohibition provided for in point (c) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of pig meat, pig meat preparations, pig meat products and any other products consisting of or containing pig meat, from the areas listed in Part IV of the Annex provided they are either:

(a)

derived from pigs which have been kept since birth in holdings located outside the areas listed in the Annex, and the pig meat, pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of, or containing such meat, have been produced, stored and processed in establishments approved in accordance with Article 12; or

(b)

have been produced and processed in accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive 2002/99/EC in establishments approved in accordance with Article 12.

Article 7U.K.Derogation from the prohibition on the dispatch of consignments of animal by-products from porcine animals from the areas listed in Parts III and IV of the Annex

1.By way of derogation from the prohibition provided for in point (d) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of derived products as referred to in Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council(16) obtained from animal by-products from porcine animals originating from the areas listed in Part III and IV of the Annex provided that those by-products have been subjected to a treatment which ensures that the derived product pose no risks as regards African swine fever.

[F72. By way of derogation from the prohibition provided for in point (d) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of animal by-products of porcine origin other than feral pigs, including unprocessed bodies of dead animals from holdings or carcases from slaughterhouses approved in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 located in the areas listed in Part III of the Annex to a processing, incineration or co-incineration plant, as referred to in Article 24(1)(a),(b) and (c) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, located outside the areas listed in Part III of the Annex, provided that:]

(a)the animal by-products originate from holdings or from slaughterhouses situated within the areas listed in Part III of the Annex, where there has been no outbreak of African swine fewer during at least 40 days prior to the dispatch;

(b)each truck and other vehicles that are used for transport of those animal by-products has been individually registered by the competent authority in accordance with Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, and:

(i)

the covered leak-proof compartment for the transport of those animal by-products is constructed in a way permitting its effective cleaning and disinfection and the construction of floors facilitates the draining and collection of liquids;

(ii)

the application for registration of the truck and other vehicles contains evidence that the truck or vehicle had been successfully subject to regular technical checks;

(iii)

each truck must be accompanied by a satellite navigation system to determine his real time location. The operator of the transport shall enable the competent authority to control the real time movement of the truck and to keep the electronic records of the movement for at least 2 months;

(c)after loading the compartment for the transport of those animal by-products shall be sealed by the official veterinarian. Only the official veterinarian may break the seal and replace it with a new one. Each loading or replacement of seals shall be notified to the competent authority;

(d)any entry of the trucks or vehicles into pig holdings shall be prohibited and the competent authority ensures a safe collection of the carcases of pigs;

(e)the transport to the above referred plants takes place directly to those plants only, without stopping at the route authorised by the competent authority from the designated disinfection point at the exit from the area listed in Part III of the Annex. At the designated disinfection point the trucks and vehicles must be subject to proper cleansing and disinfection under control of the official veterinarian;

(f)each consignment of animal by-products is accompanied by the duly completed commercial document referred to in Chapter III of Annex VIII to Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011(17). The official veterinarian responsible for the processing plant of destination must confirm each arrival to the competent authority referred to in point (b)(iii);

(g)after unloading of the animal by-products the truck or vehicle and any other equipment which are used in the transport of that animal by-products and that might be contaminated, are cleaned, disinfected and if necessary disinsectised in its entirety within the closed area of the processing plant under the supervision of the official veterinarian. Article 12(a) of Directive 2002/60/EC shall apply;

(h)the animal by-products are processed without any delay. Any storage in the processing plant shall be prohibited;

(i)the competent authority shall ensure that the dispatch of animal by-products does not exceed the relevant daily processing capacity of the processing plant;

(j)before the first dispatch from Part III of the Annex takes place, the competent authority shall ensure that the necessary arrangements with the relevant authorities within the meaning of point (c) of Annex VI to Directive 2002/60/EC in order to ensure the emergency plan, the chain of command and full cooperation of services in case of accidents during the transport, mayor breakdown of truck or vehicle or any fraudulent action of operator. The operators of the trucks shall immediately notify the competent authority of any accident or breakdown of truck or vehicle.

Article 8U.K.Prohibition on the dispatch to other Member States and third countries of live pigs from the areas listed in the Annex

[F21. Without prejudice to Article 3, Article 3a and Article 4, the Member States concerned shall ensure that live pigs are not dispatched from their territory to other Member States and third countries, except where those live pigs come from:]

(a)areas outside those listed in the Annex;

(b)a holding where no live pigs originating from the areas listed in the Annex have been introduced during a period of at least 30 days immediately prior to the date of dispatch.

2.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of live pigs from a holding located in the areas listed in the Part I of the Annex provided that those live pigs comply with the following conditions:

[F3(a) they have been uninterruptedly resident on the holding for a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of the dispatch or since birth and no live pigs have been introduced into that holding from the areas listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex during a period of at least 30 days prior to the date of the dispatch;]

[F4(b) they come from a holding which implements bio-security requirements for African swine fever as established by the competent authority and ensures that at least the first two dead pigs over the age of 60 days in each production unit each week have been subjected to a pathogen identification test for African swine fever that complies with the general procedures and criteria for the collection and transport of samples laid down in Chapter V of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC;

(c) they have been subjected to a pathogen identification test for African swine fever carried out with negative results on samples taken in accordance with the sampling procedures as laid down in the plan for the eradication of African swine fever referred to in the second paragraph of Article 1 of this Decision within a period of 7 days prior to the date of the movement and a clinical examination for African swine fever has been carried out on each consignment of live pigs by an official veterinarian in accordance with the checking and sampling procedures laid down in Part A of Chapter IV of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC within the 24-hour period prior to the movement of the live pigs; or]

(d)they come from a holding which has been subjected at least twice a year, with an interval of at least 4 months, to inspections by the competent veterinary authority, which:

(i)

followed the guidelines and procedures laid down in Chapter IV of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC;

(ii)

[F4included a clinical examination of the pigs in the holding in accordance with the checking and sampling procedures laid down in Part A of Chapter IV of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC;

(iii)

checked the effective application of the measures provided for in the second indent and in the fourth to seventh indents of Article 15(2)(b) of Directive 2002/60/EC.]

3.For consignments of the live pigs complying with the conditions of the derogation provided to in paragraph 2, the following additional wording shall be added to the corresponding veterinary documents and/or health certificates referred to in Article 5(1) of Directive 64/432/EEC and Article 3(1) of Decision 93/444/EEC:

Pigs in compliance with Article 8(2) of Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU(18).

[F2Article 9 U.K. Prohibition on the dispatch to other Member States and third countries of consignments of porcine semen and ova and embryos collected from pigs from the areas listed in the Annex

1. The Member State concerned shall ensure that no consignments of the following commodities are dispatched from their territory to other Member States and third countries:

(a) porcine semen, unless the semen was collected from donor boars kept at semen collection centre approved in accordance with Article 3(a) of Council Directive 90/429/EEC (19) and located outside the areas listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex to this Decision;

(b) porcine ova and embryos, unless the ova and embryos originate from donor females of the porcine species kept in holdings which comply with Article 8(2) and are situated outside the areas listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex and the embryos are in vivo derived embryos conceived as a result of artificial insemination or in vitro produced embryos conceived as a result of fertilisation with semen complying with the conditions laid down in point (a) of this paragraph.

2. By way of derogation from the prohibitions provided for in paragraph 1(a) of this Article and point (b) of Article 2, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of consignments of porcine semen, if the semen was collected from donor boars kept at a semen collection centre approved in accordance with Article 3(a) of Directive 90/429/EEC, applying all biosecurity rules relevant for African swine fever and located in the areas listed in Parts II and III of the Annex to this Decision to areas listed in Part II or III of the Annex of the same Member State or another Member State provided that:

(a) the consignments of porcine semen comply with any other appropriate animal health guarantees based on a positive outcome of a risk assessment of measures against the spread of African swine fever required by the competent authority of the Member State of origin and approved by the competent authority of the Member State of destination, prior to the dispatch of the consignment of semen;

(b) the Member State of origin immediately informs the Commission and the other Member States of the animal health guarantees referred to in the point (a);

(c) the donor boars comply with the requirements laid down in point 1 of Article 3 and in either point 2 or point 3 of Article 3;

[F8((d)] F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) the following additional attestation shall be added to the corresponding animal health certificates referred to in Article 6(1) of Directive 90/429/EEC:

Porcine semen in compliance with Article 9 of Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU of 9 October 2014 concerning animal health control measures relating to African swine fever in certain Member States and repealing Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU. ]

Article 10U.K.Prohibition on the dispatch to other Member States and third countries of consignments of animal by-products from porcine animals from the areas listed in the Annex

1.The Member States concerned shall ensure that no consignments of animal by-products from porcine animals are dispatched from their territory to other Member States and third countries, unless those porcine by-products originated from pigs originating in and coming from holdings located in the areas outside those listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex.

2.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of derived products obtained from animal by-products from porcine animals from the areas listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex to other Member States and third countries provided that:

(a)those by-products have been subjected to a treatment which ensures that the derived product obtained from porcine animals poses no risks as regards African swine fever;

(b)the consignments of derived products are accompanied by a commercial document issued as referred in Chapter III of Annex VIII to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.

Article 11U.K.Prohibition on the dispatch to other Member States and third countries of fresh pig meat and of certain pig meat preparations and pig meat products from areas listed in the Annex

1.The Member States concerned shall ensure that consignments of fresh pig meat from pigs originating from holdings located in the areas listed in the Annex, and pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of, or containing meat from those pigs are not dispatched to other Member States and third countries, except where such pig meat was produced from pigs originating in and coming from holdings not located in the areas listed in Parts II, III or IV of the Annex.

[F92. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the Member States concerned with areas listed in Part II, III or IV of the Annex may authorise the dispatch of fresh pig meat referred to in paragraph 1 and pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of, or containing such pig meat, to other Member States and third countries provided that those pig meat preparations and pig meat products are derived from pigs which have been kept since birth in holdings located outside the areas listed in Parts II, III and IV of the Annex and the fresh pig meat, pig meat preparations and pig meat products are produced, stored and processed in establishments approved in accordance with Article 12.

3. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the Member States concerned with areas listed in Part II of the Annex may authorise the dispatch of fresh pig meat referred to in paragraph 1 and pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of, or containing such pig meat, to other Member States and third countries provided that those pig meat preparations and pig meat products are derived from pigs that comply with the requirements laid down in paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 or paragraph 3 of Article 3.]

[F64. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the Member States concerned with areas listed in Part II of the Annex may authorise the dispatch of fresh pig meat referred to in paragraph 1 and pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of, or containing such pig meat, to other Member States and third countries provided that such pig meat preparations and pig meat products are derived from pigs that comply with the requirements laid down in Article 3b.]

Article 12U.K.Approval of slaughterhouses, cutting plants and meat processing establishments for the purposes of Articles 4, 5 and 6 and Article 11(2)

The competent authority of the Member States concerned shall only approve slaughterhouses, cutting plants and meat processing establishments for the purposes of Articles 4, 5 and 6 and Article 11(2) in which the production, storage and processing of the fresh pig meat and pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of or containing such pig meat eligible for dispatch to other Member States and third countries in accordance with the derogations provided for in Articles 4 to 6 and 11(2), is carried out separately from the production, storage and processing of other products consisting of or containing fresh pig meat and pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of or containing meat derived from pigs originating in or coming from holdings located in areas listed in the Annex other than those approved in accordance with this Article.

[F10Article 12a U.K. Derogation for slaughterhouses, cutting plants and meat processing establishments located in protection and surveillance zones

Without prejudice to Articles 4, 5 and 6 and Articles 11, 12 and 13 of this Decision, and by way of derogation from the prohibition provided in Article 3(3)(a) of Directive 2002/99/EC, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of pig meat, pig meat preparations, pig meat products and any other products consisting of or containing pig meat from slaughterhouses, cutting plants and meat processing establishments which are located in protection and surveillance zones as laid down by Directive 2002/60/EC, provided that such products:

(a)

have been produced, stored and processed in establishments located in areas listed in Parts I, II or III of the Annex and approved in accordance with Article 12; and

(b)

are derived from pigs originating in and coming from holdings not located in the areas listed in Parts II, III or IV of the Annex or from pigs originating in and coming from holdings located in the areas listed in Part II of the Annex provided that they comply with the requirements laid down in point 1 of Article 3 and in point 2 or point 3 of Article 3; and

(c)

are marked in accordance with Article 16.]

Article 13U.K.Derogation from the prohibition on the dispatch of fresh pig meat and of certain pig meat preparations and pig meat products from areas listed in the Annex

By way of derogation from Article 11, the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of fresh pig meat, pig meat preparations and pig meat products consisting of or containing such meat from the areas listed in Parts II, III or IV of the Annex, to other Member States and third countries provided that the products in question:

(a)

have been produced and processed in compliance with Article 4(1) of Directive 2002/99/EC;

(b)

are subjected to veterinary certification in accordance with Article 5 of Directive 2002/99/EC;

(c)

are accompanied by the appropriate intra-Union trade health certificate as set out in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 599/2004 and of which Part II shall be completed by the following:

Products in accordance with Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU of 9 October 2014 concerning animal health control measures relating to African swine fever in certain Member States(20).

Article 14U.K.Information concerning Articles 11, 12 and 13

The Member States shall communicate to the Commission and the other Member States, every six months from the date of this Decision, the updated list of approved establishments referred to in Article 12 and any relevant information on the application of Articles 11, 12 and 13.

Article 15U.K.Measures relating to live feral pigs, fresh meat, meat preparations and meat products consisting of or containing meat from feral pigs

[F11. The Member States concerned shall:

(a) prohibit the dispatch of live feral pigs from the areas listed in the Annex to other areas in the territory of the same Member State which are not listed;

(b) ensure that no consignments of fresh meat of feral pigs, meat preparations and meat products consisting of or containing such meat from the areas listed in the Annex are dispatched to other Member States or to other areas in the territory of the same Member State.]

2.By way of derogation from paragraph 1(b), the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of consignments of fresh meat of feral pigs, meat preparations and meat products consisting of or containing such meat from the areas listed in Part I of the Annex to other areas in the territory of the same Member State not listed in the Annex, provided that the feral pigs have been tested with negative results for African swine fever in accordance with the diagnostic procedures set out in Parts C and D of Chapter VI of the Annex to Decision 2003/422/EC.

[F6By way of derogation from paragraph 1(b), the Member States concerned may authorise the dispatch of meat from feral pigs from the areas listed in Parts I and II of the Annex to other areas in the territory of the same Member State or to other Member States, provided that such meat:

(a) has been produced and processed in accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive 2002/99/EC and undergone heat treatment as prescribed by either point (a) or (d) of Annex III to that Directive;

(b) is subjected to veterinary certification in accordance with Article 5 of Directive 2002/99/EC;

(c) is accompanied by the appropriate intra-Union trade health certificate as set out in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 599/2004 and Part II of that certificate must be completed by the following sentence: Products in accordance with Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. ]

[F10 [F13. All Member States shall prohibit the dispatch of live feral pigs to other Member States and to third countries.] ]

F114.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F12Article 15a U.K. Information obligations of the Member States

1. The Member States concerned shall ensure that passenger transport operators, including airport and port operators, travel agencies (including hunting trip organisers) and postal services operators are required to draw the attention of their customers to the control measures laid down in this Decision, in particular by providing information on the main prohibitions laid down in this Decision to travellers moving from the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision and customers of postal services in an appropriate way.

For that purpose, the Member States concerned shall organise and carry out regular public awareness campaigns to promote and spread information on the control measures laid down in this Decision.

2. All Member States shall ensure that on all major land infrastructure routes, such as international communication roads, and related road networks, appropriate information on the risks of the transmission of African swine fever and on the control measures laid down in this Decision are brought to the attention of all travellers in a visible and prominent manner.

In particular, that information shall be presented in a way that is easily understood by travellers coming from, and going to, the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision or from third countries at risk of the spread of African swine fever.

3. The Member States concerned shall coordinate their efforts to ensure that the information referred to in paragraph 1 is effectively disseminated by the transport operators and postal services operators to specifically identified target audiences.]

Article 16U.K.Special health marks and certification requirements for fresh meat, meat preparations and meat products subject to prohibition referred to in Article 2, Article 11(1) and Article 15(1)

The Member States concerned shall ensure that the fresh meat and meat preparations and meat products subject to the prohibitions provided for in Articles 2, Article 11(1) and Article 15(1) are marked with a special health mark that is not oval and cannot be confused with:

(a)

the identification mark for meat preparations and meat products consisting of, or containing pig meat, as set out in Section I of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004;

(b)

the health mark for fresh pig meat as set out in Chapter III of Section I of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 854/2004.

[F5Article 16a U.K. Channelling procedure

The competent authority shall ensure that the channelling procedure complies with the following requirements:

1.

each truck and other vehicles that are used for the transport of live pigs have been:

(a)

individually registered by the competent authority of the Member State of dispatch for the purpose of the transport of live pigs using the channelling procedure;

(b)

sealed by the official veterinarian after loading; only the official from the competent authority may break the seal and replace it with a new one; each loading or replacement of seals must be notified to the competent authority;

2.

the transport takes place:

(a)

directly, without stopping;

(b)

taking the route that has been authorised by the competent authority;

3.

the official veterinarian responsible for the holding of destination must confirm each arrival to the competent authority of origin;

4.

after unloading of the live pigs the truck or vehicle and any other equipment which have been used in the transport of these pigs, are cleaned and disinfected in their entirety within the closed area of the place of destination under the supervision of the official veterinarian. Article 12(a) of Directive 2002/60/EC shall apply;

5.

before the first dispatch from areas listed in Part III of the Annex takes place, the competent authority of origin shall ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place with the relevant authorities within the meaning of point (c) of Annex VI to Directive 2002/60/EC in order to ensure that the emergency plan, the chain of command and full cooperation of services in case of accidents during the transport, a major breakdown of the truck or other vehicle or any fraudulent action of the operator. The operators of the trucks shall immediately notify the competent authority of any accident or major breakdown of the truck or the vehicle.]

Article 17U.K.Requirements concerning holdings and transport vehicles in the areas listed in the Annex

The Member States concerned shall ensure that:

(a)

the conditions laid down in the second and the fourth to seventh indents of Article 15(2)(b) of Directive 2002/60/EC are applied in the pig holdings located within the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision;

(b)

vehicles which have been used for the transport of pigs or animal by-products from porcine animals originating from holdings located within the areas listed in the Annex to this Decision are cleansed and disinfected immediately following each operation and the transporter provides and carries in the vehicle proof of such cleansing and disinfection.

Article 18U.K.Information requirements of the Member States concerned

The Member States concerned shall inform the Commission and the other Member States, in the framework of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, of the results of the surveillance for African swine fever carried out in the areas listed in the Annex, as provided for in the plans for the eradication of African swine fever from feral pig populations approved by the Commission in accordance with Article 16 of Directive 2002/60/EC and referred to in the second paragraph of Article 1 of this Decision.

Article 19U.K.Compliance

The Member States shall amend the measures they apply to trade so as to bring them into compliance with this Decision and they shall give immediate appropriate publicity to the measures adopted. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.

Article 20U.K.Repeal

Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU is repealed.

Article 21U.K.Applicability

This Decision shall apply until [F421 April 2021].

Article 22U.K.Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

[F13ANNEX U.K.

PART I U.K.

1. Belgium U.K.

The following areas in Belgium:

in Luxembourg province:

2. Bulgaria U.K.

The following areas in Bulgaria:

3. Estonia U.K.

The following areas in Estonia:

4. Hungary U.K.

The following areas in Hungary:

5. Latvia U.K.

The following areas in Latvia:

6. Lithuania U.K.

The following areas in Lithuania:

7. Poland U.K.

The following areas in Poland:

8. Romania U.K.

The following areas in Romania:

9. Slovakia U.K.

The following areas in Slovakia:

PART II U.K.

1. Belgium U.K.

The following areas in Belgium:

in Luxembourg province:

2. Bulgaria U.K.

The following areas in Bulgaria:

3. Estonia U.K.

The following areas in Estonia:

4. Hungary U.K.

The following areas in Hungary:

5. Latvia U.K.

The following areas in Latvia:

6. Lithuania U.K.

The following areas in Lithuania:

7. Poland U.K.

The following areas in Poland:

8. Romania U.K.

The following areas in Romania:

PART III U.K.

1. Bulgaria U.K.

The following areas in Bulgaria:

2. Latvia U.K.

The following areas in Latvia:

3. Lithuania U.K.

The following areas in Lithuania:

4. Poland U.K.

The following areas in Poland:

5. Romania U.K.

The following areas in Romania:

6. Slovakia U.K.

The following areas in Slovakia:

PART IV U.K.

Italy U.K.

The following areas in Italy:

(4)

Council Directive 2002/60/EC of 27 June 2002 laying down specific provisions for the control of African swine fever and amending Directive 92/119/EEC as regards Teschen disease and African swine fever (OJ L 192, 20.7.2002, p. 27).

(5)

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/178/EU of 27 March 2014 concerning animal health control measures relating to African swine fever in certain Member States (OJ L 95, 29.3.2014, p. 47).

(6)

Commission Decision 2005/362/EC of 2 May 2005 approving the plan for the eradication of African swine fever in feral pigs in Sardinia, Italy (OJ L 118, 5.5.2005, p. 37).

(7)

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/442/EU of 7 July 2014 approving the plans for the eradication of African swine fever in feral pigs in certain areas of Lithuania and Poland (OJ L 200, 9.7.2014, p. 21).

(8)

The EFSA Journal 2010; 8(3):1556.

(9)

Council Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A (I) to Directive 90/425/EEC (OJ L 268, 14.9.1992, p. 54).

(10)

Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June 1964 on animal health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine (OJ 121, 29.7.1964, p. 1977/64).

(11)

Commission Decision 93/444/EEC of 2 July 1993 on detailed rules governing intra-Community trade in certain live animals and products intended for exportation to third countries (OJ L 208, 19.8.1993, p. 34).

(12)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 599/2004 of 30 March 2004 concerning the adoption of a harmonised model certificate and inspection report linked to intra-Community trade in animals and products of animal origin (OJ L 94, 31.3.2004, p. 44).

(13)

Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55).

(14)

Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption (OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 206).

(15)

[F4Commission Decision 2003/422/EC of 26 May 2003 approving an African swine fever diagnostic manual ( OJ L 143, 11.6.2003, p. 35 ).]

(16)

Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (Animal by-products Regulation) (OJ L 300, 14.11.2009, p. 1).

(17)

Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 of 25 February 2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and implementing Council Directive 97/78/EC as regards certain samples and items exempt from veterinary checks at the border under that Directive (OJ L 54, 26.2.2011, p. 1).

(19)

[F2Council Directive 90/429/EEC of 26 June 1990 laying down the animal health requirements applicable to intra- Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species ( OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 62 ).]