Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/796 of 27 March 2026 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 as regards the infection with bluetongue virus (serotype 1-24) disease control measures

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/796 7.8.2026 COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION(EU) 2026/796 of 27 March 2026 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 as regards the infection with bluetongue virus (serotype 1-24) disease control measures (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 76(5) and 77(2), thereof, Whereas: (1) Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down rules for the prevention and control of animal diseases that are transmissible to animals or to humans, including rules on ‘listed diseases’, defined in Article 4, point (18), of that Regulation. In particular, Title II of Part III of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down rules on disease control measures, including rules for the prioritisation and categorisation of listed diseases. In addition, Article 5 of that Regulation provides that disease-specific rules are to apply for the prevention and control of listed diseases, including infection with bluetongue virus (serotype 1-24) (infection with BTV). (2) In addition, Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down disease prevention and control rules to be applied to different categories of listed diseases. Pursuant to Article 9(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882(2) categorises each listed disease as a category A, B, C, D or E disease, which is subject to the corresponding disease-specific rules referred to in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. Infection with BTV was categorised as a category C+D+E disease, as set out in the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882. Consequently, it was subject to the disease-specific rules referred to in Article 9(1), points (c), (d) and (e), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. (3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687(3) was adopted within the framework of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and supplements the rules on disease awareness, preparedness and control to be applied with regard to the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. In particular, Articles 68 and 69 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 lay down rules on the preliminary disease control measures to be applied when a category B or C disease is suspected by the competent authority in Member States or zones that have been granted disease-free status, and the disease control measures to be applied when a category B or C is confirmed. Both of those Articles refer to infection with BTV. (1) OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj. (2) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 of 3 December 2018 on the application of certain disease prevention and control rules to categories of listed diseases and establishing a list of species and groups of species posing a considerable risk for the spread of those listed diseases (OJ L 308, 4.12.2018, p. 21, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2018/1882/oj). (3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases (OJ L 174, 3.6.2020, p. 64, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2020/687/oj). ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2026/796/oj 1/2EN OJ L, 7.8.2026 (4) The Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882, as recently amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/169(4), re-categorised infection with BTV as a category D+E disease, instead of as a category C+D+E disease. As a consequence of such re-categorisation, the rules, laid down in Articles 68 point (c) and 69 point (c) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, relating to infection with BTV, including the disease control measures in the case of the suspicion or the confirmation of an outbreak of infection with BTV in a disease-free zone are no longer relevant, as they only apply to a category C disease. Therefore, the references to infection with BTV should be deleted from Articles 68, point (c), and 69, point (c) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 should, therefore, be amended accordingly. (5) As the amendments made to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/169 concerning the new categorisation of infection with BTV as a category D+E disease apply from 1 November 2026, this Regulation should also apply from that date. (6) Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 should, therefore, be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 is amended as follows: (1) in Article 68, point (c) is deleted; (2) in Article 69, point (c) is deleted. Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 November 2026. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 27 March 2026. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN (4) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/169 of 26 January 2026 amending the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 concerning the categorisation of infection with bluetongue virus (serotypes 1-24) as a listed disease (OJ L, 2026/169, 27.1.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/169/oj). 2/2 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2026/796/oj