[:uk]The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2656 of 4 October 2024 amends Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, which establishes special control measures for African swine fever (ASF). The primary provision of this regulation is the replacement of Annex I with an updated list of restricted zones categorized as I, II, and III, reflecting the current epidemiological situation concerning ASF in the European Union.
**Key Provisions:**
1. **Amendment of Annex I:**
– **Article 1** states that Annex I of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 is replaced with the text provided in the Annex of this regulation.
– The updated Annex I delineates the specific regions within Member States that are designated as restricted zones I, II, and III.
2. **Entry into Force:**
– **Article 2** specifies that the regulation enters into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Details of the Updated Annex I:**
The updated Annex I categorizes regions within various Member States into three restricted zones based on the level of risk and presence of African swine fever:
### **Restricted Zone I (Part I):**
This zone includes areas where ASF has been detected in wild boar or sporadic cases in domestic pigs, requiring heightened surveillance and control measures.
– **Germany:**
– Specific municipalities and districts in the federal states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hessen, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, and others.
– Includes regions such as Landkreis Dahme-Spreewald, Landkreis Uckermark, Landkreis Spree-Neiße, and parts of cities like Frankfurt am Main and Wiesbaden.
– **Estonia:**
– The entire county of Hiiu Maakond.
– **Latvia:**
– Specific areas within Dienvidkurzemes novada, Ropažu novada, and others.
– **Hungary:**
– Designated hunting management units within counties like Békés, Bács-Kiskun, Fejér, Győr-Moson-Sopron, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komárom-Esztergom, Pest, and others.
– **Poland:**
– Selected gminas (municipalities) and parts of provinces (voivodeships) including kujawsko-pomorskie, warmińsko-mazurskie, podlaskie, mazowieckie, pomorskie, lubuskie, dolnośląskie, wielkopolskie, opolskie, zachodniopomorskie, małopolskie, lubelskie.
– **Slovakia:**
– Specific districts and municipalities within Nové Zámky, Veľký Krtíš, Levice, Ružomberok, Martin, Dolný Kubín, Tvrdošín, Prievidza, Partizánske, Topoľčany, Nitra, Bánovce nad Bebravou.
– **Italy:**
– Regions within Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Lombardy, Lazio, Calabria, Basilicata, Campania.
– **Czechia:**
– Specific cadastral areas in the Liberec, Česká Lípa, Jablonec nad Nisou, and Semily districts.
– **Greece:**
– Designated community and municipal departments in the regional units of Drama, Kavala, Xanthi, Rodopi, Evros, Serres, Kilkis, Thessaloniki, Chalkidiki, Pella, Imathia, Kozani, Florina, Kastoria, Ioannina, Thesprotia.
– **Croatia:**
– Municipalities and settlements within Karlovac County, Lika-Senj County, Sisak-Moslavina County, Brod-Posavina County, Osijek-Baranja County.
– **Lithuania:**
– Specific municipalities and districts including Joniškis District Municipality and Ignalina District Municipality.
### **Restricted Zone II (Part II):**
This zone encompasses areas with confirmed cases of ASF in domestic pigs or a higher incidence in wild boar, necessitating stricter control measures.
– **Bulgaria:**
– The entire regions of Haskovo, Yambol, Stara Zagora, Pernik, Kyustendil, and others.
– **Germany:**
– Additional areas in Brandenburg and Saxony, including the city of Cottbus and various municipalities in Landkreis Spree-Neiße and Landkreis Oberspreewald-Lausitz.
– **Estonia:**
– All regions except Hiiu Maakond.
– **Latvia:**
– Extensive areas across multiple novads (municipalities), including Aizkraukles, Alūksnes, Augšdaugavas, Ādažu, Balvu, Bauskas, Cēsu, and others.
– **Lithuania:**
– Numerous municipalities including Alytus City Municipality, Anykščiai District Municipality, Druskininkai Municipality, and others.
– **Hungary:**
– All hunting management units in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hajdú-Bihar County, Heves County, and others.
– **Poland:**
– Specific regions in voivodeships such as warmińsko-mazurskie, podlaskie, mazowieckie, lubelskie, podkarpackie, małopolskie, pomorskie, świętokrzyskie, lubuskie, dolnośląskie, wielkopolskie, opolskie, zachodniopomorskie.
– **Slovakia:**
– Entire districts including Gelnica, Poprad, Spišská Nová Ves, Kežmarok, Michalovce, and others.
– **Italy:**
– Additional municipalities in Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Lazio, Calabria.
– **Czechia:**
– Specific cadastral areas in the Liberec and Jablonec nad Nisou districts.
– **Croatia:**
– Municipalities and settlements in Karlovac County and Sisak-Moslavina County.
### **Restricted Zone III (Part III):**
This zone includes areas with a persistent presence of ASF, requiring the highest level of control measures.
– **Italy:**
– Specific municipalities in Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont.
– **Lithuania:**
– Certain districts within Biržai, Kalvarijos, Kupiškis, Kelmė, Klaipėda, Lazdijai, Marijampolė, Pasvalys, Pakruojis, Raseiniai, Radviliškis, Rokiškis, Šilutė.
– **Poland:**
– Designated areas in the voivodeships of warmińsko-mazurskie, pomorskie, kujawsko-pomorskie, wielkopolskie, lubelskie, zachodniopomorskie, mazowieckie, świętokrzyskie.
– **Romania:**
– The entire areas of Bucharest and counties such as Constanța, Satu Mare, Tulcea, Bacău, and others.
– **Germany:**
– Specific regions in Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz, including parts of Landkreis Groß-Gerau, Landkreis Bergstraße, Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg, the city of Darmstadt, parts of Main-Taunus-Kreis, and parts of the city of Mainz.
– **Greece:**
– Certain municipalities and community departments in the regional units of Drama, Serres, Kilkis, Thessaloniki, Chalkidiki.
– **Slovakia:**
– Specific municipalities in the districts of Levice, Krupina, Banská Štiavnica.
– **Croatia:**
– Municipalities and settlements in Vukovar-Srijem County, Brod-Posavina County, Osijek-Baranja County, and others.
– **Latvia:**
– Certain areas in Cēsu novads, Gulbenes novads, Valmieras novads, Valkas novads, Limbažu novads, Madonas novads, and Aizkraukles novads.
**Implications of the Updated Annex I:**
– The updated Annex I precisely identifies regions that are subject to special control measures due to the presence or risk of African swine fever.
– The restricted zones are established to prevent the spread of ASF by implementing specific containment and control strategies in the affected areas.
– The detailed listing enables Member States to enforce measures such as movement restrictions, surveillance, culling of infected animals, and biosecurity enhancements in the designated zones.
**Key Points for Enforcement:**
– **Restricted Zone I:** Areas with initial or sporadic cases; heightened surveillance is required.
– **Restricted Zone II:** Areas with confirmed cases in domestic pigs or higher wild boar incidences; stricter controls are implemented.
– **Restricted Zone III:** Areas with persistent ASF presence; the highest levels of control measures are enacted.
**Conclusion:**
The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2656 effectively updates the list of restricted zones to reflect the current ASF situation within the EU. By delineating specific regions under restricted zones I, II, and III, the regulation aims to control and prevent the spread of African swine fever through coordinated efforts and targeted measures across Member States.[:]
