19.3.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 75/38

(1)

African swine fever is an infectious viral disease affecting domestic and feral pig populations and can have a severe impact on the profitability of pig farming causing disturbance to trade within the Union and exports to third countries.

(2)

In the event of an outbreak of African swine fever, there is a risk that the disease agent might spread to other pig holdings and to feral pigs. As a result, it may spread from one Member State to another Member State and to third countries through trade in live pigs or their products.

(3)

Council Directive 2002/60/EC (3) lays down minimum measures to be applied within the Union for the control of African swine fever. Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC provides for the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in the event of outbreaks of that disease, where the measures laid down in Articles 10 and 11 of that Directive are to apply.

(4)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/86 (4) was adopted following the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in Romania, in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC, following outbreaks of African swine fever in that Member State.

(5)

Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/86, Romania has notified the Commission of a new outbreak of African swine fever in a backyard holding. Romania has also duly taken the necessary measures in accordance with Directive 2002/60/EC following that recent outbreak, including the establishment of new protection and surveillance zones in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 2002/60/EC.

(6)

In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade by third countries, it is necessary to describe at Union level the areas now established as protection and surveillance zones for African swine fever in Romania in collaboration with that Member State.

(7)

Accordingly, the areas now identified as protection and surveillance zones in Romania should be set out in the Annex to this Decision and the duration of that regionalisation fixed.

(8)

In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/86 should be repealed and replaced by this Decision to take account of the updated disease situation in Romania.

(9)

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