THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (hereinafter referred to as the EEA Agreement), in particular Article 109 and Protocol 1 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice, in particular Article 5(2)(d) and Protocol 1 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Act referred to at point 4.1.5 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement,

Council Directive 91/67/EEC concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products,

as amended and in particular to Article 12 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Act referred to at point 4.2.79 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement,

Commission Decision 2004/453/EC of 29 April 2004 implementing Council Directive 91/67/EEC as regards measures against certain fish diseases in aquaculture animals, as amended,

WHEREAS Norway has drawn up a programme to control with a view to eradicate Bacterial Kidney Disease, which is one of the diseases listed in Annex A, column 1, list III of Council Directive 91/67/EEC,

WHEREAS the minimum criteria for the national control and eradication programmes for Bacterial Kidney Disease are laid down in Annex II, Chapter I of Commission Decision 2004/453/EC,

WHEREAS, on 4 January 2007, Norway submitted to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (hereinafter referred to as the Authority) its control and eradication programme for Bacterial Kidney Disease,

WHEREAS, by letter of 10 January 2008 and in accordance with Article 12 of Council Directive 91/67/EEC, Norway applied for approval of its national control and eradication programme for Bacterial Kidney Disease with the goal of achieving free status for the disease,

WHEREAS the Authority, in close co-operation with the Commission of the European Communities, has examined the Norwegian control and eradication programme,

WHEREAS the examination shows that the programme submitted by Norway fulfils the minimum requirements for control and eradication programmes laid down in Chapter I of Annex II to Commission Decision 2004/453/EC and therefore is to be approved,

WHEREAS the Authority by its Decision 272/08/COL referred the matter to the EFTA Veterinary Committee assisting the Authority,

WHEREAS the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the EFTA Veterinary Committee assisting the Authority,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: