(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 populations 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. 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 zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.

(4)

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 (4) was adopted on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and it lays down certain emergency measures relating to infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Romania in response to the outbreak confirmed on 5 March 2025 in Bihor county. More particularly, Article 1 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 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 Annex I to that Implementing Decision.

(5)

In addition, Article 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 provides that Romania is to apply the measures which are applicable to further restricted zones, as provided for in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, in the areas listed in Annex II to that Implementing Decision, and until the dates listed in that Annex. Article 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 also provides that movements of ovine and caprine animals outside the external perimeters of those areas are to be prohibited until the dates listed for each area in that Annex. This is necessary to ensure that the measures provided for in Article 2 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638, notably that prohibition on movements of ovine and caprine animals, apply for a certain period of time, after the expiry of the dates for the measures provided for in the protection and surveillance zones, as listed in Annex I to that Implementing Decision.

(6)

Since the adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638, the available data on disease surveillance in Bihor County remain insufficient to evaluate the epidemiological situation regarding infection with peste des petits ruminants virus. It is therefore necessary to maintain Bihor County within the areas where the measures applicable to further restricted zones, as provided for in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, are to apply. In particular, the movement of ovine and caprine animals from Bihor County to areas outside the external perimeters of that county should continue to be prohibited. Given the current epidemiological situation in Bihor county, it is necessary to extend the duration of the further restriction zone until 30 September 2025. Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(7)

Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of infection with peste des petits ruminants virus, and the need to prevent the disease from spreading from the affected establishments in Romania to other parts of that Member State or to other Member States, the amendments to be made to Annex II to Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638, by this Decision, should apply as soon as possible.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,