30.7.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 205/20

(1)

Directive 92/119/EEC lays down general control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of certain animal diseases, including lumpy skin disease (LSD). These control measures include the establishment of protection and surveillance zones around the infected holding, and they also provide for emergency vaccination in the case of an outbreak of LSD as a supplement to other control measures.

(2)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1500 (5) lays down certain protective animal health control measures in relation to the confirmation of LSD in Greece in 2015. Those measures include the establishment of a restricted zone which is described in the Annex to that Implementing Decision, and which includes the area where LSD was confirmed and the protection and surveillance zones established by Greece in accordance with Directive 92/119/EEC.

(3)

Following the evolution of the epidemiological situation in Greece, the Commission adopted Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2055 (6). That Implementing Decision provides that Greece may carry out emergency vaccination of bovine animals kept on holdings in the vaccination zone as set out in Annex I to that Implementing Decision. Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2055 also amended certain provisions of Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1500, including the extension of the restricted zone set out in the Annex thereto.

(4)

Implementing Decisions (EU) 2015/1500 and (EU) 2015/2055 were subsequently amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2311 (7), in order to extend the restricted zone set out in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1500 and the vaccination zone as set out in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2055, following confirmation of additional outbreaks in the regional unit of Chalkidiki and the receipt of notification from Greece of its intention to carry out vaccination against LSD in certain regional units.

(5)

The Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1500 and Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2055 were later amended by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1116 (8), in order to take account of subsequent developments in the epidemiological situation in Greece and vaccination measures taken by that Member State.

(6)

Since 19 July 2016, Greece has reported a new outbreak of LSD in the regional unit of Achaia, an area of mainland Greece, in the Peloponnese peninsula, where no outbreaks of LSD have previously been reported and which is located more than 150 km south from the closest regional unit currently subject to restrictions and vaccination measures in relation to LSD.

(7)

Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in Greece, and the speed of transmission of LSD, it is necessary to extend the restricted zone set out in the Annex to Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/1500, as well as the vaccination zone as set out in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/2055 to include the entire territory of mainland Greece. Implementing Decisions (EU) 2015/1500 and (EU) 2015/2055 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

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