3.5.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 132/79 COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION of 29 April 2014 amending Decision 2010/221/EU as regards the approval of national measures for preventing the introduction of ostreid herpesvirus 1 pvar (OsHV-1 pVar) into certain areas of Ireland and the United Kingdom (notified under document C(2014) 2763) (Text with EEA relevance) (2014/250[EU) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Council Directive 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals (*), and in par- ticular Article 43(2) thereof, Whereas: (1)  Commission Decision 2010/221/EU (%) allows certain Member States to apply placing on the market and import restrictions on consignments of aquatic animals in order to prevent the introduction of certain diseases into their territory. ember States can a such restrictions provide at they have either demonstrated that their territory, or 2 Member Stat pply such restrict provided that they h ther d trated that their territory, certain demarcated areas of their territory, are free of such diseases or they have established an eradication programme to obtain such freedom. (3)  Annexes I and III to Decision 2010/221/EU list areas in Ireland and the United Kingdom with approved national measures to control ostreid herpesvirus 1 pvar (OsHV-1 pVar). (4)  As OsHV-1 pVar still was considered to be an emerging disease with many uncertainties and the surveillance programmes approved by Decision 2010/221/EU had not been fully evaluated, the Commission Implementing Decision 2013/213/EU () allowed the restrictions related to OsHV-1 uVar for those areas to apply until 30 April 2014. (5)  Currently available scientific knowledge indicates that OsHV-1 pVar is still the agent detected in most samples collected from mortality events in juvenile oysters and spat, and that the overall mortality rate due to this disease has decreased and stabilised over the last two years. Furthermore, the surveillance programmes for Ireland and the United Kingdom show that there are a significant number of production areas for Pacific oysters that have remained free of the disease. Those programmes indicate that application of the movement restrictions currently in place has been effective. However, some uncertainties remain in relation to the epidemiology of the disease and with regard to the most adequate measures needed to ensure its effective control. Therefore, a more compre- hensive scientific evaluation of the situation is considered necessary, including a new scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). (6)  Based on the available scientific and epidemiological evidence on the evolution of OsHV-1 pVar in the Union, and pending a new EFSA scientific opinion, it is appropriate to prolong the period of validity of the measures currently in force whereby Member States can apply specific restrictions related to this disease. This period should be limited to two more years until 30 April 2016. () OJL328,24.11.2006, p. 14. (*) Commission Decision 2010/221/EU of 15 April 2010 approving national measures for limiting the impact of certain diseases in aqua- culture animals and wild aquatic animals in accordance with Article 43 of Council Directive 2006/88/EC (O] L 98, 24.4.2010, p. 7). () Commission Implementing Decision 2013/213/EU of 29 April 2013 amending Decision 2010/221/EU as regards the approval of national measures for preventing the introduction of ostreid herpesvirus 1 pvar (OsHV-1 pvar) into certain areas of Ireland and the United Kingdom (OJ L 120, 1.5.2013, p. 16).