(1)

Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 establishes a framework governing aquaculture practices in relation to alien and locally absent species to assess and minimise the possible impact of these and any associated non-target species on aquatic habitats.

(2)

Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 lists species that have commonly been used in aquaculture for a long time in certain parts of the Union and thus benefit from a differential treatment facilitating their development without any additional administrative burden, as foreseen in Article 2(5) of that Regulation.

(3)

Member States may request the Commission to add species to Annex IV of the Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 in accordance with Article 24(4) of the Regulation (EC) No 708/2007. Detailed rules on the conditions necessary for adding species to Annex IV are specified in Commission Regulation (EC) No 535/2008 (2).

(4)

Greece requested to add the species Red seabream, also known as Japanese seabream (Pagrus major) to Annex IV of the Regulation (EC) No 708/2007, pursuant to the detailed rules of the Regulation (EC) No 535/2008, and in particular Article 3 thereof. A study submitted with the request concluded that this species has been used in Greek aquaculture for a long time with no adverse effect. After the assessment of this request, the Commission concluded that the request is justified and substantiated with all information required.

(5)

The amendment to Annex IV following the request from Greece provides an opportunity to make adjustments in the terminology used in the Annex. The Latin name of the Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) was misspelled and is to be replaced with a correct name. An update of the Latin name of the Big head carp from Aristichthys nobilis to Hypophthalmichthys nobilis is also opportune.

(6)

For the sake of clarity, a footnote added to Annex IV explains that hybrids of species listed in this annex do not automatically benefit from the differential treatment provided to the listed species. In order to benefit from that treatment, the procedure of adding species to the annex is to be followed.

(7)

Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

in the PART A – General, the following species is added: Pagrus major, Red seabream, also known as Japanese seabream;

(2)

the Latin name of species Acipenser gueldenstaeti is replaced by Acipenser gueldenstaedtii;

(3)

the Latin name of species Aristichthys nobilis is replaced by Hypophthalmichthys nobilis;

(4)

a footnote is added to the title in Annex IV with the following text: ‘Hybrids of species included in this Annex should not be considered as part of this list.’