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Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/497 14.3.2025
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION (EU) 2025/497
of 11 March 2025
amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3238 concerning certain emergency measures relating
to infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Bulgaria
(notified under document C(2025) 1625)
(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) Infection with peste des petits ruminants virus is an infectious 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 infection with peste des petits ruminants virus 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 infection with peste des petits ruminants virus, and for certain measures to be
applied therein. 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 zones around or adjacent to the protection
and surveillance zones.
(4) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3238(4)was adopted on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and
lays down certain emergency measures relating to infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Bulgaria in
response to an outbreak confirmed on 25 November 2024in Velingrad municipality, in the region of Pazardzhik.
More specifically, Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3238 provides that the protection, surveillance and further
restricted zones to be established by that Member State, 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) 2024/3238 of 19 December 2024 concerning certain emergency measures relating to
infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Bulgaria and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3109 (OJ L, 2024/3238,
23.12.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2024/3238/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/497/oj 1/3EN
OJ L, 14.3.2025
(5) Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3238, Bulgaria has notified the Commission of
continued delays in the application of the disease control measures required to be applied in the event of official
confirmation of an outbreak of a category A disease in kept animals in an establishment in accordance with
Article 12 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, as regards the outbreak that was confirmed in Velingrad
municipality, in the region of Pazardzhik.
(6) In light of the current epidemiological situation to effectively mitigate the risk of disease spread both within Bulgaria
and to other Member States, it is crucial to adjust the duration of the control measures in the restricted zones listed
as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones for Bulgaria, in the Annex to Implementing Decision
(EU) 2024/3238. These adjustments address the significant risk posed by the continued circulation and potential
spread of the disease beyond the currently affected areas as long as the disease control measures have not been
completed.
(7) The duration of the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones is based on the criteria set out in
Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and on the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. In
addition, the epidemiological situation regarding infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in the affected areas
as well as the overall epidemiological situation of infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Bulgaria, as well
as the level of risk for further spread of that disease within that Member State and in the Union is taken into account.
Furthermore, the duration of the measures provided for by this decision has been determined in line with
international standards set out in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health
(WOAH).
(8) Taking into account the current epidemiological situation in the Union as regards infection with peste des petits
ruminants virus and the period during which the measures provided for by Implementing Decision
(EU) 2024/3238 need to apply, the application of that Decision should be prolonged until 31 July 2025.
(9) 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
Amendments to Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3238
Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3238 is amended as follows:
1. in Article 4, the date ‘31 May 2025’ is replaced by ‘31 July 2025’;
2. the Annex is replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.
Article 2
Addressee
This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Bulgaria.
Done at Brussels, 11 March 2025.
For the Commission
Olivér VÁRHELYI
Member of the Commission
2/3 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/497/ojEN
OJ L, 14.3.2025
ANNEX
A. Protection and surveillance zones established around the confirmed outbreak
Areas established as protection and surveillance
Regional unit and ADIS reference number of the
zones, part of the restricted zone in Bulgaria Date until applicable
outbreak
referred to in Article 1
Protection zone:
Those parts of Pazardzhik region, contained
within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, 22.5.2025
centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates
Lat. 42.0156, Long. 23.9989 (2024/1)
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of Pazardzhik region, contained
within a circle of a radius of 20 kilometres,
Pazardzhik region
centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates 31.5.2025
BG-PPR-2024-00001
Lat. 42.0156, Long. 23.9989 (2024/1)
excluding the areas contained in the
protection zone
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of Pazardzhik region, contained
within a circle of a radius of 20 kilometres, 23.5.2025- 31.5.2025
centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates
Lat. 42.0156, Long. 23.9989 (2024/1)
B. Further restricted zones
Areas included in the further restricted zone established in Bulgaria as
Regional unit Date until applicable
referred to in Article 1
— Entire territory of Pazardzhik region, excluding the areas
30.6.2025
included in any protection or surveillance zone.
Region of Pazardzhik
— Entire territory of Pazardzhik region 1.6.2025- 30.6.2025
— Municipalities Razlog, Satovcha, Garmen, Bansko, Belitsa,
Region of Blagoevgrad 30.6.2025
Yakoruda
Region of Smolyan — Dospat Municipality 30.6.2025
Region of Sofia oblast — Municipalities Kostenets and Dolna Banya 30.6.2025
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/497/oj 3/3