1. Registration of ‘Livanjski sir’ as Protected Geographical Indication:
The European Union has registered ‘Livanjski sir’, a cheese from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). This means that only cheese produced in the specified geographical area following the registered specification can use this name. The registration process was completed without any opposition during the public consultation period.
2. African Swine Fever Control Measures Update:
The EU has modified its zoning restrictions for African swine fever in multiple member states. The changes affect restricted areas in Germany, Poland, Croatia, Italy, and Lithuania. The regulation introduces new restricted zones due to wild boar outbreaks in Germany and Poland, while simultaneously downgrading risk levels in certain areas of Croatia, Germany, Italy, and Lithuania where the situation has improved. Some regions have been completely removed from the restricted zones list due to the absence of disease. The regulation provides detailed geographical descriptions of all modified zones, categorizing them into three risk levels (Zones I, II, and III).
Review of each of legal acts published today:
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2932 of 14 November 2024 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the entering of a geographical indication in the Union register of geographical indications (Livanjski sir (PGI))
This Commission Implementing Regulation establishes the registration of ‘Livanjski sir’ as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in the EU register of geographical indications. The regulation implements the application from Bosnia and Herzegovina for protecting this specific cheese product under EU quality schemes.The regulation consists of two main articles. Article 1 formally enters ‘Livanjski sir’ into the Union register of geographical indications as a PGI. Article 2 sets the standard entry into force provision – twenty days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU.The key aspects of this regulation include:
- The application was originally submitted under the previous Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 but is being processed under the new Regulation (EU) 2024/1143
- No opposition was received during the prescribed period after the publication of the application
- The protection granted means that the name ‘Livanjski sir’ can only be used for cheese products that comply with the registered specification and come from the defined geographical area
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2928 of 20 November 2024 amending Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 laying down special control measures for African swine fever
This is a Commission Implementing Regulation amending Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2023/594 regarding African swine fever (ASF) control measures. The regulation updates the zoning of restricted areas for ASF in several EU member states, particularly in Germany, Poland, Croatia, Italy and Lithuania. It modifies the classification of zones based on the epidemiological situation and risk assessment. The main changes include:
- New outbreaks of ASF in wild boar in Germany and Poland requiring updates to restricted zones
- Reclassification of certain areas in Croatia, Germany, Italy and Lithuania from higher to lower risk zones due to improved disease situation
- Delisting of some areas from restricted zones where ASF has been absent for sufficient time periods
Key provisions:
- Detailed geographic descriptions of modified restricted zones I, II and III in affected member states
- Criteria for zoning decisions based on epidemiological situation, risk levels, and international standards
- Immediate entry into force due to urgency of ASF situation
- Full replacement of previous Annex I listing restricted zones
