Aquaculture animals and products – health rules

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2006/88/EC - animal health requirements for aquaculture animals

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It sets out:

animal health requirements for the sale, import or transit of aquaculture animals (farmed fish and shellfish);
minimum measures to increase general awareness and prevent disease;
minimum measures in the event of a suspected, or established, outbreak of disease.

KEY POINTS

Scope

The legislation does not apply to fish or shellfish for ornamental purposes, caught in the wild or destined to be processed into fishmeal, fish feed, oil or similar products.

Authorisation

EU countries’ national authorities must ensure that each fish farm is authorised.

To receive their authorisation, fish farms must:

keep records of all fish and shellfish moved into and out of the premises;
demonstrate high standards of hygiene;
operate a risk-based animal health surveillance scheme to detect diseases and any increased levels of mortality.

National authorities must maintain an up-to-date and publicly available register of authorised fish farms.

Disease prevention

The legislation sets out a list of diseases and the species susceptible to them.
Disease prevention measures must be in place when aquaculture animals are transported.
Farmed fish and shellfish must be healthy. They require an animal health certificate when offered for sale.
Imported fish and shellfish must comply with EU animal health requirements.
The EU may decide to inspect the farms they come from.

Notification

Fish farm owners and vets must immediately report any increase in mortality or suspicions of a disease to the relevant authority.
National authorities must notify other EU countries and the European Commission as well as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein within 24 hours of a disease being confirmed.

Disease control

If a disease is suspected, control measures are taken, such as conducting laboratory tests and placing the farm in quarantine.
When a disease is confirmed, the authorities:
- officially declare the farm is infected;
- establish a containment area, with protection and surveillance zones;
- ban the restocking and movement of the fish and shellfish.
EU countries must satisfy specific requirements before being given disease-free status.
Commission experts, accompanied by national officials, may carry out on-the-spot inspections. National authorities may take more stringent measures if they wish.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 14 December 2006. EU countries had to incorporate it into national law by 1 May 2008.

Directive 2006/88/EC will be replaced by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 from 2 April 2021.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

MAIN DOCUMENT

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 (OJ L 328, 24.11.2006, pp. 14-56)

Successive amendments to Directive 2006/88/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.