Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1306 of 25 July 2022 amending Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for the United Kingdom and the United States in the lists of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry and fresh meat of poultry and game birds (Text with EEA relevance)

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’) ¹, and in particular Articles 230(1) and 232(1) and (3) thereof.

Whereas:

• (1) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 requires that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin must come from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, listed in accordance with Article 230(1) of that Regulation in order to enter the Union.

• (2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 ² lays down the animal health requirements with which consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from third countries or territories, or zones thereof, or compartments thereof, in the case of aquaculture animals, must comply with in order to enter the Union.

• (3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 ³ establishes the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones or compartments thereof, from which the entry into the Union of the species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin falling within the scope of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 is permitted.

• (4) More particularly, Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 set out the lists of third countries, or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union, respectively, of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry, and of fresh meat from poultry and game birds.

• (5) The United Kingdom have submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to five outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry establishments: one outbreak near Buckfastleigh, Teignbridge, Devon, England, United Kingdom, confirmed on 22 December 2021; three outbreaks near Woodbridge, East Suffolk, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom confirmed on 20, 27 and 30 March 2022; and one outbreak near Ilminster, South Somerset, England, United Kingdom confirmed on 8 April 2022. The United Kingdom have also submitted information on the measures it has taken to prevent the further spread of that disease. In particular, following those outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the United Kingdom have implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease. In addition, the United Kingdom have completed the requisite cleaning and disinfection measures following the implementation of the stamping out policy on those infected poultry establishments on its territory.

• (6) Moreover, the United States have submitted updated information on the epidemiological situation on its territory in relation to twelve outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in certain poultry establishments in the States of Kentucky, South Dakota and Texas confirmed between 12 December 2021 and 3 April 2022. The United States have also submitted information on the measures it has taken to prevent the further spread of that disease. In particular, following those outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, the United States have implemented a stamping out policy in order to control and limit the spread of that disease. In addition, the United States have completed the requisite cleaning and disinfection measures following the implementation of the stamping out policy on those infected poultry establishments on its territory.

• (7) The Commission has evaluated the information submitted by the United Kingdom and the United States and concluded that the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in those poultry establishments have been cleared and that there is no longer any risk associated with the entry into the Union of poultry commodities from the zones of the United Kingdom and the United States from which the entry into the Union of poultry commodities was suspended due to these outbreaks.

• (8) Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be therefore amended to take account of the current epidemiological situation as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United Kingdom and the United States.

• (9) Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the United Kingdom and the United States as regards highly pathogenic avian influenza and the serious risk of its introduction into the Union, the amendments to be made to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 July 2022.

For the Commission

The President

Ursula VON DER LEYEN

ANNEX I

Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 are amended as follows:

• (1) Annex V is amended as follows:

• (a) Part 1 is amended as follows:

• (i) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zone GB-2.77 are replaced by the following:

• (ii) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zones GB-2.110 and GB-2.111 are replaced by the following:

• (iii) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zone GB-2.113 are replaced by the following:

• (iv) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zone GB-2.117 are replaced by the following:

• (v) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.5 and US-2.6 are replaced by the following:

• (vi) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.15 are replaced by the following:

• (vii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.24 are replaced by the following:

• (viii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.31 are replaced by the following:

• (ix) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.36 are replaced by the following:

• (x) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.40 are replaced by the following:

• (xi) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.42 are replaced by the following:

• (xii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.51 and US-2.52 are replaced by the following:

• (xiii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.71 are replaced by the following:

• (xiv) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.86 are replaced by the following:

• (2) in Annex XIV, Part 1 is amended as follows:

• (i) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zone GB-2.77 are replaced by the following:

• (ii) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zones GB-2.110 and GB-2.111 are replaced by the following:

• (iii) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zone GB-2.113 are replaced by the following:

• (iv) in the entry for the United Kingdom, the rows for the zone GB-2.117 are replaced by the following:

• (v) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.5 and US-2.6 are replaced by the following::

• (vi) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.15 are replaced by the following:

• (vii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.24 are replaced by the following:

• (viii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.31 are replaced by the following:

• (ix) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.36 are replaced by the following:

• (x) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.40 are replaced by the following:

• (xi) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.42 are replaced by the following:

• (xii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zones US-2.51 and US-2.52 are replaced by the following:

• (xiii) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.71 are replaced by the following:

• (xiv) in the entry for the United States, the following rows for the zone US-2.86 are replaced by the following: