Here’s a breakdown of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/902:
**1. Essence of the Act:**
This regulation amends Annex I of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, which outlines special disease control measures for African Swine Fever (ASF). The amendment involves updating the lists of restricted zones (Zones I, II, and III) within the European Union due to recent ASF outbreaks. These changes are necessary to manage and prevent the further spread of the disease based on the evolving epidemiological situation.
**2. Structure and Main Provisions:**
* **Article 1:** This article is the core of the regulation. It directly replaces Annex I of the original Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 with a new, updated annex. The new annex contains lists of specific geographic areas within Member States, categorized as restricted zones I, II, and III.
* **Article 2:** Specifies that the regulation comes into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This ensures the immediate implementation of the updated zoning measures.
The annex lists specific regions within Member States, designating them as Restricted Zones I, II, or III. These zones reflect varying levels of risk associated with ASF outbreaks. The listed Member States include Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Czechia, Greece and Croatia.
Compared to previous versions, this regulation modifies the boundaries and classifications of restricted zones in Italy and Slovakia to reflect new outbreaks in wild and kept porcine animals.
**3. Main Provisions Important for Use:**
* **Geographic Scope:** The most critical aspect is the detailed listing of specific municipalities, districts, or parts thereof within each Member State that fall into the restricted zones. Anyone involved in the movement of live pigs or pork products needs to consult the updated Annex I to determine if their area of operation is affected.
* **Zoning Implications:** The categorization of an area into Zone I, II, or III dictates the specific disease control measures that apply. These measures can include restrictions on movement, enhanced surveillance, and mandatory testing.
* **Dynamic Nature:** The regulation acknowledges that the ASF situation is dynamic. This implies that the restricted zones are subject to change as the epidemiological situation evolves, so it’s important to stay updated on the latest regulations.
* **Territorial Continuity:** The regulation highlights the importance of ensuring territorial continuity when defining restricted zones. This means that the zones should be demarcated in a way that avoids creating isolated pockets and facilitates effective disease control.
* **Legal Basis:** The regulation is based on Regulation (EU) 2016/429, the “Animal Health Law,” which provides the framework for preventing and controlling animal diseases within the EU.
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