http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/eudn/2015/2433

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2433

of 18 December 2015

amending Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU as regards the animal health control measures relating to African swine fever in certain Member States

(notified under document C(2015) 9168)

(Text with EEA relevance)

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 market1, 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 market2, 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 consumption3, and in particular Article 4(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU4 lays down animal health control measures in relation to African swine fever in the Member States or areas thereof listed in the Annex thereto (‘the concerned Member States’). Those measures include prohibitions 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 of the concerned Member States (‘the commodities’). That Annex demarcates and lists those areas to take account of the level of risk based on the epidemiological situation in the concerned Member States.

(2)

In order to adapt the animal health control measures laid down in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU to the evolution of the epidemiological situation in the different areas of the Member States concerned, and to take account of the different risk levels depending on the type of commodities, it is appropriate to provide for certain derogations for certain types of commodities originating from the areas listed in the different Parts of the Annex to that Implementing Decision. Those derogations should also be in line with the risk mitigation measures for importation as regards African swine fever indicated in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health5. The additional safeguard measures and animal health requirements applicable, in case such derogations are granted, should also be described in that Implementing Decision.

(3)

The prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in Part III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU is particularly stringent and may therefore lead to logistic and animal welfare problems where 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 of that Annex either within the same Member State or in the territory of another Member State listed in the Annex.

(4)

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 circumstances described in recital 3 occur, 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 or in the territory of another Member State listed in the Annex provided that risk mitigating measures are met in order not to jeopardise disease control.

(5)

In terms of the risk of the spread of African swine fever, movements of different porcine commodities pose different levels of risk. As a general rule, the movement of porcine semen from restricted areas poses significant risks in terms of exposure and consequences. However, the application of additional risk mitigating measures, such as testing and increased biosecurity, can allow for derogations for semen collected in the areas listed in Parts II and III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. Article 9 of that Implementing Decision should therefore be amended.

(6)

The derogations for the dispatch of certain live pigs from the areas listed in Parts II and III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU to other areas listed in Part II or III of that Annex of another Member State with a similar disease status are justified provided that specific risk mitigating measures are applied. The flexibility provided by these new measures is important in order to ensure proper implementation of the measures in a medium and long term perspective. This requires the establishment of a safe channelling procedure under the strict control of the competent authorities of the Member State of transit and destination. Articles 3 and 4 of that Implementing Decision should therefore be amended.

(7)

As an additional risk mitigating measure, a channelling procedure should be in place in order to isolate animals coming from areas with a higher risk for African swine fever. It is therefore necessary to clarify and specify the procedures for the dispatch, transit and delivery of live pigs.

(8)

The derogations provided for in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU for the dispatch of live pigs and semen between areas with a comparable risk for African swine fever should only be applied when approved by the competent authorities of the Member States of transit and destination, prior to such movement.

(9)

Council Directive 64/432/EEC6 provides that health certificates are to accompany the movements of live animals. Where derogations from the prohibition on the dispatch of live pigs from the areas listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU are applied to live pigs intended for intra-Union trade, those health certificates should include a reference to that Implementing Decision so as to ensure that adequate and accurate health information is provided in the relevant certificates.

(10)

The period of application of the animal health control measures provided for in Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should take account of the epidemiology of African swine fever and the conditions required to regain disease-free status for African swine fever in accordance with the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health. Therefore, the period of application of Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should be extended until 31 December 2019.

(11)

Several cases of African swine fever in wild boar in Estonia and Latvia are located in the areas listed in Parts II and III of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU. These cases are located in close proximity to the areas listed in Part I of that Annex.

(12)

African swine fever has never been reported in the most Northern areas in Poland currently listed in Part II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU.

(13)

The evolution of the current epidemiological situation in the Union as regards African swine fever should be considered in the assessment of the risk represented by the animal health situation as regards that disease in Estonia, Latvia and Poland. In order to focus animal health control measures and to prevent the further spread of African swine fever, as well as to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, the Union list of areas subject to the animal health control measures set out in Parts I and II of the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/709/EU should be amended to take into account the current animal health situation as regards that disease in those three Member States.

(14)

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: