Date: 2025-06-10Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 of 5 June 2025 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 (notified under document C(2025) 3705)
Issued by European Commission
· Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
## Report on Commission Implementing Decision EU 2025/1160 Concerning Emergency Measures Relating to Sheep Pox and Goat Pox in Bulgaria
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes Commission Implementing Decision EU 2025/1160, an amendment to a previous decision addressing the outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria. This amendment updates and extends emergency measures, specifically adjusting the geographical scope and duration of restricted zones (protection and surveillance zones) in the Haskovo region. The core purpose is to prevent the further spread of the disease within Bulgaria and to other parts of the European Union. The key finding is that the updated measures reflect an evolving epidemiological situation, necessitating continued and spatially adjusted restrictions on animal movement and related activities in the affected areas.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of Commission Implementing Decision EU 2025/1160, based solely on the provided text. This decision amends a previous policy to address the ongoing situation with sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria. This report will analyze the background, key changes, affected parties, and intended impact of this amendment.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This is an amendment to a previous policy: Commission Implementing Decision EU 2025/948.
* Core Objective(s): Based on the provided text, the core objective of this amended decision is to control and prevent the further spread of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria and throughout the EU by establishing and maintaining restricted zones with specific measures.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This amendment is likely necessitated by a worsening epidemiological situation in Bulgaria. Specifically, the text mentions "two additional outbreaks of infection with sheep pox and goat pox" in the Haskovo province since the adoption of Implementing Decision EU 2025/948. This amendment is designed to spatially and temporally adjust the emergency measures to account for these new outbreaks and prevent further spread.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This section focuses on the specific changes introduced by Implementing Decision EU 2025/1160:
* **Original Policy Component Affected:** The key component of the original policy being changed is the geographic definition of the protection and surveillance zones and the duration of the measures applied within those zones.
* **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment replaces the previous restricted zone definitions with an updated list of areas in the Haskovo region (specified by coordinates) that must be included in the protection and surveillance zones. It also establishes new "dates until applicable" for the measures within those zones. These are detailed in the Annex to the Decision. The specific outbreaks and corresponding zones are identified by ADIS reference numbers BGCAPRIPOX202500004, BGCAPRIPOX202500005 and BGCAPRIPOX202500006
* **Difference/Effect of Change:** The effect of this change is to expand or modify the existing restricted zones around the newly identified outbreak locations, and to adjust the time period during which measures need to be applied. This likely entails stricter controls on animal movement and related activities in a larger or altered geographical area and/or for a longer duration than previously stipulated. The varying dates applicable to different surveillance zones (19.6.2025 and 27.6.2025) also suggests a tiered approach to lifting restrictions based on ongoing monitoring.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the provided text, the directly affected stakeholders include:
* Farmers and livestock owners in the Haskovo region of Bulgaria, particularly those raising caprine (goat) and ovine (sheep) animals.
* Businesses involved in the movement and trade of sheep and goats, and products derived from them, both within Bulgaria and internationally.
* The Bulgarian competent authority responsible for animal health.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The "competent authority" of Bulgaria is responsible for implementing the measures, specifically establishing and maintaining the restricted zones. The European Commission is also involved, having adopted the Decision.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The text mandates that the restricted zones be established "immediately." The "dates until applicable" listed in the Annex specify the duration of the measures within each zone. The procedures for establishing and managing the zones are presumably based on Article 21 of Delegated Regulation EU 2020/687, although the specific procedures are not detailed in the text. The competent authority must apply the measures in the protection and surveillance zones at least until the dates listed in the Annex.
* **Implementation Specific to Changes:** The changes require the Bulgarian competent authority to redefine the protection and surveillance zones based on the new outbreak locations (BGCAPRIPOX202500004, BGCAPRIPOX202500005 and BGCAPRIPOX202500006) and adjust the measures within those zones to be compliant until the specified dates.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcome of these specific changes is to more effectively contain the spread of sheep pox and goat pox, due to the additional outbreak locations. By adjusting the size and duration of the restricted zones, the amendment aims to reduce the risk of further transmission to other establishments within Bulgaria and to other Member States. This will hopefully mitigate negative impacts on animal populations, agricultural profitability, and international trade.
**9. Conclusion:**
Commission Implementing Decision EU 2025/1160 represents an adaptive response to the evolving epidemiological situation regarding sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria. By amending the geographic scope and duration of previously established emergency measures, this decision seeks to enhance containment efforts and protect both the Bulgarian and wider European livestock industries. The changes reflect the need for continued vigilance and targeted interventions to address outbreaks of this infectious animal disease.
Key Entities Referenced
European Union: A political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe.
L series 2025/160: Reference to the series and number of the Official Journal of the European Union where the decision is published.
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2025/1160: The main subject of the document, an implementing decision by the European Commission.
5 June 2025: Date of the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160.
sheep pox: An infectious viral disease affecting ovine animals (sheep).
goat pox: An infectious viral disease affecting caprine animals (goats).
Bulgaria: A Member State of the European Union where emergency measures are being implemented due to outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox.
Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948: A previous Commission Implementing Decision that is being repealed and replaced by the current decision. It concerned interim emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria.
Regulation (EU) 2016/429: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on transmissible animal diseases (Animal Health Law).
European Parliament: One of the legislative bodies of the European Union.
Council: Refers to the Council of the European Union.
Animal Health Law: Common name for Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
Article 259(1): Specific article within Regulation (EU) 2016/429 providing the legal basis for the decision.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687: A regulation supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which defines rules for the control of listed diseases.
Article 9(1), points a, b and c: Specific article within Regulation (EU) 2016/429, defining listed diseases of category A, B and C.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882: A regulation on the application of certain disease prevention and control rules.
Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687: Articles specifying establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease.
Article 21(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687: Article specifying that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zone around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.
15 May 2025: Date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948.
7 June 2025: The date until which Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 was applicable.
Haskovo: A province in Bulgaria where additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox have been reported.
Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429: Article defining the criteria for the size of protection and surveillance zones.
Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH): International standards considered for the duration of the measures.
Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed: A committee whose opinion was considered before adopting the decision.
Republic of Bulgaria: The Member State to which this decision is addressed.
Brussels: Location where the decision was made.
Olivr VRHELYI: Member of the European Commission.
UTM 30, ETRS89: Coordinate system and datum used for specifying location of outbreaks
18.6.2025: Date until applicable for certain Protection zones.
27.6.2025: Date until applicable for certain Surveillance zones.
19.6.2025: Date until applicable for certain Surveillance zones.
BGCAPRIPOX202500004: ADIS reference number of the outbreak
BGCAPRIPOX202500005: ADIS reference number of the outbreak
BGCAPRIPOX202500006: ADIS reference number of the outbreak
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1160 10.6.2025
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION(EU) 2025/1160
of 5 June 2025
concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria and repealing
Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948
(notified under document C(2025) 3705)
(Only the Bulgarian text is authentic)
(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 Article 259(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Sheep pox and goat pox is an infectious viral disease affecting caprine and ovine animals and can have a severe impact
on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming causing disturbance to movements of
consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries.
(2) In the event of an outbreak of sheep pox and goat pox in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread
of that disease to other establishments of caprine or ovine animals.
(3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687(2) supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases
referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C
diseases in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882(3). In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated
Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category
A disease, including sheep pox and goat pox, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1)
of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone,
and, if necessary, further restricted zone around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.
(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948(4) was adopted, on 15 May 2025, within the framework of
Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and lays down certain interim emergency measures relating to infection with sheep pox
and goat pox in Bulgaria applicable until 7 June 2025.
(5) More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 provides that the protection and surveillance zones to be
established by that Member State, following an outbreak of infection with sheep pox and goat pox, in accordance
with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that
Implementing Decision.
(1) OJ L 84, 31.3.2016, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/429/oj.
(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 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).
(3) 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).
(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 of 15 May 2025 concerning certain interim emergency measures relating to
sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2025/948, 16.5.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/948/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1160/oj 1/4EN
OJ L, 10.6.2025
(6) Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948, Bulgaria has notified the Commission of two
additional outbreaks of infection with sheep pox and goat pox in establishments where ovine and caprine animals
are kept, located in the province of Haskovo.
(7) In light of the epidemiological situation concerning sheep and goat pox in Bulgaria, and notably taking into account
those two new outbreaks, the interim emergency measures foreseen in Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 should
be adjusted, both spatially and temporally, and continued in order to prevent the further spread of the disease in
Bulgaria or to the rest of the Union. The updated list of areas where a restricted zone must be established in Bulgaria
in respect of sheep and goat pox, as well as the envisaged duration of these zones, should, therefore, be set out in the
Annex to this Decision.
(8) The size of the protection and surveillance zones, and duration of the measures to be applied therein, are based on
the criteria set out in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, including the epidemiological situation as regards
sheep pox and goat pox in the areas affected by that disease and the overall epidemiological situation of sheep pox
and goat pox in the Member State concerned by that disease as well as the level of risk for the further spread of the
disease, and are in accordance with the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. The duration of the
measures also takes into account the international standards of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World
Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)(5).
(9) Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 should, therefore, be repealed and replaced by this Decision.
(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants,
Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Bulgaria shall ensure that:
(a) a restricted zone, which comprises protection and surveillance zones is established immediately by the competent
authority of that Member State in accordance with Article 21 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, and under the
conditions laid down in that Article;
(b) the protection and surveillance zones referred to in point (a) comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to this
Decision;
(c) the measures required to be applied in the protection and surveillance zones, are applied at least until the dates listed
in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 is repealed.
(5) https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/terrestrial-code-online-access/.
2/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1160/ojEN
OJ L, 10.6.2025
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Bulgaria.
Done at Brussels, 5 June 2025.
For the Commission
Olivér VÁRHELYI
Member of the Commission
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1160/oj 3/4EN
OJ L, 10.6.2025
ANNEX
Protection and surveillance zones established around the confirmed outbreaks
Areas established as protection and surveillance
Region and ADIS reference number of the outbreak zones, part of the restricted zone in Bulgaria Date until applicable
referred to in Article 1
Protection zone:
Those parts of the region of Haskovo,
contained within a circle of a radius of 3
kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 18.6.2025
coordinates Lat. 41.7231, Long. 26.3188
(2025/4), Lat. 41.7171, Long. 26.316
(2025/5).
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Haskovo,
contained within a circle of a radius of 10
Region of Haskovo
kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00004 27.6.2025
coordinates Lat. 41.7231, Long. 26.3188
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00005
(2025/4), Lat. 41.7171, Long. 26.316
(2025/5), excluding the areas contained in
the protection zone.
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Haskovo,
contained within a circle of a radius of 3
kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 19.6.2025 - 27.6.2025
coordinates Lat. 41.7231, Long. 26.3188
(2025/4), Lat. 41.7171, Long. 26.316
(2025/5).
Region of Haskovo Protection zone:
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00006 Those parts of the region of Haskovo,
contained within a circle of a radius of 3
18.6.2025
kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
coordinates Lat. 42.1161, Long. 26.182
(2025/6).
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Haskovo,
contained within a circle of a radius of 10
kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 27.6.2025
coordinates Lat. 42.1161, Long. 26.182
(2025/6), excluding the areas contained in
the protection zone.
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Haskovo,
contained within a circle of a radius of 3
19.6.2025-27.6.2025
kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
coordinates Lat. 42.1161, Long. 26.182
(2025/6).
4/4 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1160/oj