Official Gazette Notification Text
Official TranscriptOfficial Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/2052 10.9.2026 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION(EU) 2026/2052 of 8 September 2026 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (notified under document C(2026) 6468) (Only the Bulgarian text is authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN...
Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/2052 10.9.2026 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION(EU) 2026/2052 of 8 September 2026 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (notified under document C(2026) 6468) (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 it 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. 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 keeping those animals.
(2) 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, a further restricted zone around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.
(3) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160(4)was adopted following outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria, and it lays down certain emergency measures to be taken by that Member State. More particularly, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 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 Parts A and B of Annex I to that Implementing Decision. It also provides that the measures required to be applied in those zones are to be applied at least until the dates listed in that Annex.
(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) 2025/1160 of 5 June 2025 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria and repealing Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/948 (OJ L, 2025/1160, 10.6.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.
eu/eli/dec_impl/2025/1160/oj).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/oj 1/9EN OJ L, 10.9.2026
(4) Since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, by Commission Implementing Decision
(EU) 2026/1955(5), Bulgaria has notified the Commission of thirteen additional outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in establishments keeping ovine animals in the regions of Blagoevgrad, Haskovo, Kardzhali, Stara Zagora and Yambol, within the period from 20 to 31 August 2026. Several of those new outbreaks are located outside the restricted zones that were already established as a result of previous outbreaks, namely in the regions of Kardzhali and Yambol, where the disease had not been previously reported. In response, Bulgaria has established protection and surveillance zones in which the disease control measures laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 are being applied.
(5) Therefore, the areas listed as protection, surveillance and further restricted zones for Bulgaria in Annex I to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, as well as the duration of the measures applicable therein, should be adjusted to take account of the new outbreaks. Accordingly, it is necessary to amend the list of restricted zones, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein, set out in Annex I to that Implementing Decision as well as the list of zones, set out in Annex II to that Implementing Decision, in which the measures applicable to further restricted zones are to be applied, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein.
(6) The Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.
(7) The size of the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones, and the duration of the measures to be applied therein, is based on the criteria laid down in Article 64(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, as well as the rules laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687. The criteria applied for the choice of the size and the number of the protection, surveillance, and further restricted zones, as well as of the duration of the measures to be applied therein, include a consideration of not only the epidemiological situation as regards sheep pox and goat pox in the areas affected by that disease, but also of the overall epidemiological situation of sheep pox and goat pox in the entire territory of the Member State concerned by that disease, as well as the level of risk for the further spread of the disease. In addition, the duration of the measures provided for by this Decision has been determined in line with the international standards set out in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World Organisation for Animal Health
(WOAH)(6).
(8) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of sheep pox and goat pox, and the need to prevent that disease from spreading from the affected establishments in Bulgaria to other parts of that Member State or to other Member States, the amendments to be made to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160, by this Decision, should take effect as soon as possible.
(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 The Annexes to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 are replaced by the text set out in the Annex to this Decision.
(5) Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1955 of 19 August 2026 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1160 concerning certain emergency measures relating to sheep pox and goat pox in Bulgaria (OJ L, 2026/1955, 24.8.2026, ELI: http://data.
europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1955/oj).
(6) https://www.woah.org/en/what-we-do/standards/codes-and-manuals/.
2/9 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/ojEN OJ L, 10.9.2026 Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Bulgaria.
Done at Brussels, 8 September 2026.
For the Commission Olivér VÁRHELYI Member of the Commission
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/oj 3/9EN OJ L, 10.9.2026 ANNEX ‘ANNEX I
Part A: Protection and surveillance zones established around the confirmed outbreaks Region and ADIS reference number Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the Date until applicable of the outbreak restricted zone in Bulgaria referred to in Article 1
Protection zone:
Those parts of the regions of Plovdiv, Haskovo, and Stara Zagora contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.200, Long. 24.790453 (2025/39), Lat. 42.2829, Long. 24.9637 (2025/42), Lat. 42.2308, Long
25.0438 (2025/45), Lat. 42.2401, Long. 25.0556 (2025/46), Lat. 42.2037, Long. 25.0513 (2025/47), Lat. 42.1959, Long.
25.0566 (2025/48), Lat. 42.0248, Long. 25.096 (2025/61), Lat.
42.2883, Long. 24.6303 (2025/69), Lat. 42.3705, Long.
Region of Plovdiv 31.12.2026
24.725 (2025/70), Lat. 42.3263, Long. 24.6724 (2025/73), Lat.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00039
42.0146, Long. 25.2956 (2025/78), , Lat. 42.3063, Long.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00042
24.5243 (2025/84), Lat. 41.9443, Long. 25.2481 (2025/88), BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00045 Lat. 41.9423, Long. 25.2434 (2025/90), Lat. 41.9449, Long.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00046
25.2471 (2025/91), Lat. 42.267, Long. 24.554 (2025/92), Lat.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00047
42.2848, Long. 24.5428 (2025/94), Lat. 42.2757, Long.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00048
24.5373 (2025/95), Lat. 41.9456, Long. 25.2427 (2025/97), , BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00061 Lat. 42.1483, Long. 25.0517 (2025/135), Lat. 42.0859, Long.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00069
24.7088 (2025/149), Lat. 42.3442, Long. 24.8236 (2026/1), BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00070 Lat. 42.0275, Long. 25.1041 (2026/4).
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00073 BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00078 BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00084
Surveillance zone:
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00088 Those parts of the regions of Plovdiv, , Stara Zagora, Haskovo BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00090 and Pazardzhik contained within a circle of a radius of 20 BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00091 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00092 Lat. 42.200, Long. 24.790453 (2025/39), BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00094 Lat. 42.2829, Long. 24.9637 (2025/42), Lat. 42.2308, Long BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00095
25.0438 (2025/45), Lat. 42.2401, Long. 25.0556 (2025/46), BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00097 Lat. 42.2037, Long. 25.0513 (2025/47), Lat. 42.1959, Long.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00135
25.0566 (2025/48), Lat. 42.0248, Long. 25.096 (2025/61), Lat.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2025-00149
42.2883, Long. 24.6303 (2025/69), Lat. 42.3705, Long.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00001
24.725 (2025/70), Lat. 42.3263, Long. 24.6724 (2025/73), Lat.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00002 31.12.2026
42.0146, Long. 25.2956 (2025/78), Lat. 42.3063, Long.
BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00004
24.5243 (2025/84), Lat. 41.9443, Long. 25.2481 (2025/88), Lat. 41.9423, Long. 25.2434 (2025/90), Lat. 41.9449, Long.
25.2471 (2025/91), Lat. 42.267, Long. 24.554 (2025/92), Lat.
42.2848, Long. 24.5428 (2025/94), Lat. 42.2757, Long.
24.5373 (2025/95), Lat. 41.9456, Long. 25.2427 (2025/97), Lat. 42.1228, Long. 24.9373 (2025/138), Lat. 42.0859, Long.
24.7088 (2025/149), Lat. 42.3905, Long. 25.131 (2025/153), Lat. 42.3442, Long. 24.8236 (2026/1), Lat. 42.0275, Long. 25.1041 (2026/4). excluding the areas contained in the protection zone.
Protection zone:
Those parts of the regions of Haskovo, and Stara Zagora Region of Haskovo contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00003 UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00010 Lat. 42.059, Long. 25.981(2026/3), 12.10.2026 BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00011 Lat. 42.059, Long. 25.983 (2026/10), BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00014 Lat. 41.860, Long. 25.510 (2026/11), BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00023 Lat. 42.054, Long. 25.984 (2026/14), Lat. 41.996, Long.
22.973 (2026/23).
4/9 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/ojEN OJ L, 10.9.2026 Region and ADIS reference number Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the Date until applicable of the outbreak restricted zone in Bulgaria referred to in Article 1
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the regions of Haskovo and Stara Zagora contained within a circle of a radius of 20 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.059, Long. 25.981(2026/3), 30.10.2026 Lat. 42.059, Long. 25.983 (2026/10), Lat. 41.860, Long. 25.510 (2026/11), Lat. 42.054, Long.
25.984 (2026/14), Lat. 41.996, Long. 22.973 (2026/23) excluding the areas contained in the protection zone.
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the regions of Haskovo and Stara Zagora contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates 13.10.2026- Lat. 42.059, Long. 25.981(2026/3), 30.10.2026 Lat. 42.059, Long. 25.983 (2026/10), Lat. 41.860, Long. 25.510 (2026/11), Lat. 42.054, Long.
25.984 (2026/14), Lat. 41.996, Long. 22.973 (2026/23).
Protection zone:
Those parts of the region of Blagoevgrad contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates 13.10.2026 Lat. 41.470, Long. 23.693 (2026/5), Lat. 42.054, Long. 23.014 (2026/12), Lat. 41.970, Long. 22.914 (2026/21).
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Blagoevgrad contained within a Region of Blagoevgrad circle of a radius of 20 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00005 coordinates
31.10.2026 BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00012 Lat. 41.470, Long. 23.693 (2026/5), BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00021 Lat. 42.054, Long. 23.014 (2026/12), Lat. 41.970, Long. 22.914 (2026/21), excluding the areas contained in the protection zone.
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Blagoevgrad contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
14.10.2026 – coordinates
31.10.2026 Lat. 41.470, Long. 23.693 (2026/5), Lat. 42.054, Long. 23.014 (2026/12), Lat. 41.970, Long. 22.914 (2026/21).
Protection zone:
Those parts of the region of Stara Zagora contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 Region of Stara Zagora coordinates BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00006 Lat. 42.334, Long. 25.2153 (2026/6), BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00007 11.10.2026 Lat. 42.2401, Long. 25.2523 (2026/7), BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00008 Lat. 42.2168, Long. 25.2290 (2026/8), BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00017 Lat. 42.561, Long. 25.410 (2026/17), BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00018 Lat. 42.558, Long. 25.413 (2026/18), BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00019 Lat. 42.562, Long. 25.412 (2026/19).
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/oj 5/9EN OJ L, 10.9.2026 Region and ADIS reference number Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the Date until applicable of the outbreak restricted zone in Bulgaria referred to in Article 1
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Stara Zagora and Haskovo contained within a circle of a radius of 20 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.334, Long. 25.2153 (2026/6), Lat. 42.2401, Long. 25.2523 (2026/7), 29.10.2026 Lat. 42.2168, Long. 25.2290 (2026/8), Lat. 42.561, Long. 25.410 (2026/17), Lat. 42.558, Long. 25.413 (2026/18), Lat. 42.562, Long. 25.412 (2026/19), excluding the areas contained in the protection zone.
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Stara Zagora contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates Lat. 42.334, Long. Lat. 42.334, Long. 25.2153 (2026/6), 12.10.2026 – Lat. 42.2401, Long. 25.2523 (2026/7), 29.10.2026 Lat. 42.2168, Long. 25.2290 (2026/8), Lat. 42.561, Long. 25.410 (2026/17), Lat. 42.558, Long. 25.413 (2026/18), Lat. 42.562, Long. 25.412 (2026/19).
Protection zone:
Those parts of the region of Kyustendil contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 22.9.2026 coordinates Lat. 42.197, Long. 22.673 (2026/9).
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Kyustendil contained within a circle Region of Kyustendil of a radius of 20 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
10.10.2026 BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00009 coordinates Lat. 42.197, Long. 22.673 (2026/9), excluding the areas contained in the protection zone.
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Kyustendil contained within a circle
23.9.2026 – of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
10.10.2026 coordinates Lat. 42.197, Long. 22.673 (2026/9).
Protection zone:
Those parts of the region of Kardzhali contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates 6.10.2026 Lat. 41.704, Long. 25.601 (2026/13), Lat. 41.720, Long. 25.602 (2026/15), Lat. 41.610, Long.
25.684 (2026/16).
Region of Kardzhali BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00013 BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00015 Surveillance zone:
BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00016 Those parts of the region of Kardzhali contained within a circle of a radius of 20 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 coordinates
24.10.2026 Lat. 41.704, Long. 25.601 (2026/13), Lat. 41.720, Long. 25.602 (2026/15), Lat. 41.610, Long.
25.684 (2026/16), excluding the areas contained in the protection zone.
6/9 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/ojEN OJ L, 10.9.2026 Region and ADIS reference number Areas established as protection and surveillance zones, part of the Date until applicable of the outbreak restricted zone in Bulgaria referred to in Article 1
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Kardzhali contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
7.10.2026- coordinates
24.10.2026 Lat. 41.704, Long. 25.601 (2026/13), Lat. 41.720, Long. 25.602 (2026/15), Lat. 41.610, Long.
25.684 (2026/16).
Protection zone:
Those parts of the region of Yambol contained within a circle of a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89 6.10.2026 coordinates Lat. 42.514, Long. 26.656 (2026/24).
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Yambol contained within a circle of Region of Yambol a radius of 20 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
24.10.2026 BG-CAPRIPOX-2026-00024 coordinates Lat. 42.514, Long. 26.656 (2026/24), excluding the areas contained in the protection zone.
Surveillance zone:
Those parts of the region of Yambol contained within a circle of
7.10.2026- a radius of 5 kilometres, centred on UTM 30, ETRS89
24.10.2026 coordinates Lat. 42.514, Long. 26.656 (2026/24);
Part B: Further restricted zones Further restricted Areas included in the further restricted zones Region Date until applicable zone established in Bulgaria as referred to in Article 2 The entire region of Plovdiv excluding the Region of Plovdiv areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 surveillance zone.
The entire region of Blagoevgrad excluding Region of the areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 Blagoevgrad surveillance zone.
The entire region of Haskovo excluding Region of Haskovo the areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 surveillance zone.
Further restricted zone The entire region of Pazardzhik excluding Region of Stara the areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 Pazardzhik surveillance zone.
The entire region of Kyustendil excluding Region of Kyustendil the areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 surveillance zone.
The entire region of Stara Zagora Region of Stara excluding the areas included in any 31.12.2026 Zagora protection or surveillance zone.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/oj 7/9EN OJ L, 10.9.2026 Further restricted Areas included in the further restricted zones Region Date until applicable zone established in Bulgaria as referred to in Article 2 The entire region of Kardzhali excluding Region of Kardzhali the areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 surveillance zone.
The entire region of Yambol excluding the Region of Yambol areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 surveillance zone.
The entire region of Sliven excluding the Region of Sliven areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 surveillance zone.
The entire region of Burgas excluding the Region of Burgas areas included in any protection or 31.12.2026 surveillance zone.
8/9 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/ojEN OJ L, 10.9.2026 ANNEX II Area Region Areas, referred to in Article 3 Date until applicable Region of Plovdiv The entire region of Plovdiv. 31.12.2026 Region of The entire region of Blagoevgrad. 31.12.2026 Blagoevgrad Region of Haskovo The entire region of Haskovo. 31.12.2026 Region of Stara The entire region of Pazardzhik. 31.12.2026 Pazardzhik Region of Kyustendil The entire region of Kyustendil. 31.12.2026 Area Region of Stara The entire region of Stara Zagora. 31.12.2026 Zagora Region of Kardzhali The entire region of Kardzhali. 31.12.2026 Region of Yambol The entire region of Yambol. 31.12.2026 Region of Sliven The entire region of Sliven. 31.12.2026 Region of Burgas The entire region of Burgas. 31.12.2026’
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/2052/oj 9/9