Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/451 of 23 February 2026 amending Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Botswana in the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates

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), point (b), thereof.

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 provides that consignments of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin from a third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, are only to be allowed to enter into the Union if the third country or territory, or zone or compartment thereof, concerned is 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 that consignments of certain species and categories of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin, from third countries or territories, or zones 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) lays down the lists of third countries or territories, or zones 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. Those lists and certain general rules concerning those lists are set out in Annexes I to XXII to that Implementing Regulation.

(4) More particularly, Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 sets out the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of ungulates.

(5) On 28 January 2026, Botswana informed the Commission of a suspected outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in one bovine animals’ establishment in the region of North-East District of Botswana, which was confirmed by the competent authorities on 29 January 2026. That establishment is located within the veterinary disease control zone 6b designated by the competent authorities of Botswana, from which entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates is suspended from 27 August 2022, pursuant to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1619 (4).

(6) On 13 February 2026, Botswana communicated to the Commission further detection of FMD outbreaks in five bovine animals’ establishments also in the region of North-East District of Botswana. Four of those establishments are located within the veterinary disease control zone 3c designated by the competent authorities of Botswana. They are in a close proximity to the outbreak confirmed on 29 January 2026 in the veterinary disease control zone 6b.

(7) The list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof set out in Part 1 of Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 specifies that the entry into the Union from the zone BW-1, consisting of the veterinary disease control zones 3c, 4b, 5, 8 and 9 designated by the competent authorities of Botswana, of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates, is authorised.

(8) Due to the risk of the introduction of FMD into the Union linked to the entry of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates from the veterinary disease control zone 3c in Botswana, the entry into the Union of such consignments should no longer be authorised.

(9) The entry for Botswana in the list of third countries or territories, or zones thereof set out in the Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should therefore be amended to take account of the current epidemiological situation as regards FMD in that third country.

(10) Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 should be therefore amended accordingly.

(11) Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in Botswana as regards FMD, the amendments to be made to Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 by this Regulation should take effect as a matter of urgency.

(12) 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

Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 is 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, 23 February 2026.

For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

(1) OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj.

(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin (OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 379, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2020/692/oj).

(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 of 24 March 2021 laying down the lists of third countries, territories or zones thereof from which the entry into the Union of animals, germinal products and products of animal origin is permitted in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 114, 31.3.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/404/oj).

(4) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1619 of 19 September 2022 amending Annex XIII to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entry for Botswana in the list of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of fresh meat of certain ungulates (OJ L 243, 20.9.2022, p. 141, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/1619/oj).